iStuff: a physical user interface toolkit for ubiquitous computing environments

The iStuff toolkit of physical devices, and the flexible software infrastructure to support it, were designed to simplify the exploration of novel interaction techniques in the post-desktop era of multiple users, devices, systems and applications collaborating in an interactive environment. The toolkit leverages an existing interactive workspace infrastructure, making it lightweight and platform independent. The supporting software framework includes a dynamically configurable intermediary to simplify the mapping of devices to applications. We describe the iStuff architecture and provide several examples of iStuff, organized into a taxonomy of ubiquitous computing interaction components. We conclude with some insights and experiences derived from using this toolkit and framework to prototype experimental interaction techniques for ubiquitous computing environments. Keywords User interface toolkits, ubiquitous computing, tangible user interfaces, input and interaction technologies, wir...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Rafael Ballagas, Meredith Ringel, Maureen C. Stone, Jan Borchers
• Keywords: CHI 2003, Human Computer Interaction, IStuff Toolkit, Ubiquitous Computing Environments, Ubiquitous Computing Interaction