Keynote speech I: Beyond multi-touch: Interactive surfaces that support haptic feedback and multiple independent views

Abstract

Although Multi-touch devices have become common in the consumer world, users have sacrificed the tactile feedback afforded by physical buttons. The Bristol Interaction and Graphics group has been exploring various technical solutions to create the next generation of touch interfaces that support multi-point haptic feedback as well as dynamic allocation of views to different users. In this talk I will present UltraHaptics a multi-point haptic feedback system that allows users to experience haptic feedback simultaneously in multiple locations on an interactive surface. This feedback is created in midair — so users don't have to touch or hold any device to experience it. Another system I will be talking about it PiVOT, a tabletop system where users can come together and view shared content or by leaning forward can get personalised views that are only visible from their particular view-point. This talk will present our recent research endeavors in this direction and present some design challenges.