Haptic/tactile interactive systems

Presenters: Dr. Beryl Plimmer and Dr. Peter Reid

How do you design an interactive system that will teach writing and drawing to blind children? How do you evaluate a system with a limited target audience (less than 10 in Auckland)?

Our June presentation will describe the unusual challenges of designing ‘McSig’ – a multi-modal, multi-user system that utilizes a haptic pen, audio, a tactile writing surface and a tablet PC.

While this may sound like a fringe application, haptic game devices such as the Novint Falcon are on the market and tactile surfaces are becoming increasingly popular in mobile phones.

This is also an extreme case of ‘the users are not like us’: the presenters could not consider involving the children in usability testing – yet absolutely needed to usability test!

The lessons learned, while reinforcing many of the basics of user centred design and usability testing as the corner stones for good solutions, will help extend our understanding of these new technologies.

A report on the first phase of this project received a best paper award at Chi2008, the premier International Human Computer Interaction Research Conference.

• RSVP: Please RSVP to auckland@upa.org.nz by 5pm Monday 23rd June
• Date & Time: Tuesday 24th June, 6pm onwards for drinks and nibbles.
• Talks start at 6.30pm. Finishes at approximately 8pm.
• Cost: $10 cash at the door. Please bring correct change.
• Location: Bank of New Zealand, 3rd floor, 125 Queen Street, Auckland.
• Late entry: Please call Paul Johnson on 029 222 0589 if you have difficulty getting in or arrive after 6.30pm.