Around-body interaction: sensing & interaction techniques for proprioception-enhanced input with mobile devices

Abstract

The space around the body provides a large interaction volume that can allow for big interactions on small mobile devices. However, interaction techniques making use of this opportunity are underexplored, primarily focusing on distributing information in the space around the body. We demonstrate three types of around-body interaction including canvas, modal and context-aware interactions in six demonstration applications. We also present a sensing solution using standard smartphone hardware: a phone's front camera, accelerometer and inertia measurement units. Our solution allows a person to interact with a mobile device by holding and positioning it between a normal field of view and its vicinity around the body. By leveraging a user's proprioceptive sense, around-body Interaction opens a new input channel that enhances conventional interaction on a mobile device without requiring additional hardware.