Augmenting Collections of Everyday Objects: A Case Study of Clothes Hangers as an Information Display Tara Matthews, Hans-W. Gellersen, Kristof Van Laerhoven, Anind K. Dey University of California Berkeley

2 Overview Introduction Hanger Display Evaluation Results Design Considerations

3 Introduction One goal of ubiquitous computing: –To support natural interaction technology One common solution: –Digitally augment everyday objects that have well-established functions and meanings Our project: –Explore how sets of everyday, physical artifacts can collectively provide an information display or interactive behavior

4 Collections as Interfaces Distinction from previous work in collections: –Everyday artifacts are individually meaningful entities to start with Reasons to explore this approach: –Use of everyday context –Collections take advantage of spatial arrangement –Many collections naturally exist

5 Case Study: The Hanger Display Designed and implemented a generic interface consisting of a collection of augmented hangers on a rod Implemented three peripheral display applications for the Hanger Display Collected formative user feedback

6 The Hanger Display ?

7 Each hanger has LED attached Hangers form a row of LEDs Lighting of LEDs can mean different things (many possible inputs) Three peripheral display inputs: Temperature Barometric pressure Remote presence

8 Design: Why Hangers? Common objects in the home, naturally formed into collections Hangers associated with hanging up and picking out clothes morning rituals getting ready for work or the day During these activities, people are interested in easy access to related information: weather or their schedule to determine what to wear amount of as an indication of how much work there is to do traffic to give an indication of commute time

9 Design: Why Hangers? Affordances When hanger is hung on rod, it is “part of the application” Reduces the need for dedicated devices Hangers are already part of morning activity; why not make them more useful?

10 Challenges Preserve natural interaction Technology cannot interfere with everyday use of hangers. People will want to move, add, and remove hangers. Resiliency to change Everyday use should not interfere with the technology (i.e., it should not “break” the application).

11 Implementation Power and data supplied to LEDs via rod using MicroLAN protocol Java software on a laptop controls hanger LEDs Simple, cheap technology Resilient to change

12 Formative Evaluation In-lab, 8 participants Purpose: –Obtain feedback on the concept of everyday object collections as interfaces Method: –Showed three applications to demonstrate Hanger Display –Informally interacted with display –Interview: qualitative feedback –Brainstorm: new applications and interaction

13 Results Realistic use for such displays: all users suggested applications they would use Many suggestions involved more interaction, something afforded by physical collections Points to new, creative, and useful applications of ubiquitous computing that support activities in situ

14 Clothing Shop Example

15 Results Realistic use for such displays: all users suggested applications they would use Many suggestions involved more interaction, something afforded by physical collections Points to new, creative, and useful applications of ubiquitous computing that support activities in situ

16 Design Considerations Existing structures can be useful in defining interface scope Interfaces composed of everyday artifacts must be resilient to change This type of physical interface could lead to new interaction possibilities

17 Conclusion Explored how sets of everyday, physical artifacts can collectively provide an information display or interactive behavior Benefits of everyday object collections as interfaces: –Everyday objects provide opportunities for useful applications that support activities in situ –Collections take advantage of spatial arrangement Designed and implemented The Hanger Display as a case study Confirmed design considerations for such interfaces

18 Questions or Comments? For more information: University of California Berkeley

Red LED Ground Power and Data Switch