To solve the challenge of exploring large information spaces on interactive surfaces such as tabletops, we developed an optically tracked, lightweight, passive display (magic lens) that provides elegant three-dimensional exploration of rich datasets. This can either be volumetric, layered, zoomable, or temporal information spaces, which are mapped onto the physical volume above a tabletop. By moving the magic lens through the volume, corresponding data is displayed, thus serving as a window into virtuality. Hereby, various interaction techniques are introduced, which especially utilize the lens’ height in a novel way, e.g. for zooming or displaying various information layers.
Application Scenarios
Scenario 1: Volumetric Information Space
In this scenario, users can slice through an MRI scan of a human head by simply moving or tilting the magic lens in the physical space above the tabletop.
Scenario 2: Layered Information Space
Various layers of information, in this case representing different human body systems, can be chosen from by lifting and lowering the magic lens.
Scenario 3: Zoomable Information Space
Various large images are displayed on the tabletop. Users can examine details (zooming in/out) by lifting or lowering the magic lens above the tabletop. A projected contour line of the magic lens is depicted on the tabletop in order to visualize the lens’ current position within the image.
Scenario 4: Temporal Information Space
In this scenario, users can explore videos by moving the magic lens up and down. In this way, they can easily perform basic operations such as going forward/ backward in time in slow or fast motion.
Videos
Press Coverage
- New Scientist about PaperLens on 3rd December 2009
Publications
@inproceedings{fixme,
author = {Martin Spindler and Raimund Dachselt},
title = {Exploring Information Spaces by Using Tangible Magic Lenses in a Tabletop Environment},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 28th of the International Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2010},
series = {CHI EA '10},
year = {2010},
month = {4},
location = {Atlanta, Georgia, USA},
pages = {4771--4776},
numpages = {6},
doi = {10.1145/1753846.1754229},
url = {http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1753846.1754229},
acmid = {1754229},
publisher = {ACM},
keywords = {data exploration, interactive surface, ir-tracking, magic lens, natural interaction, paper display, passive display, tabletop, tangible interaction, volume slicing, window into virtuality}
}List of additional material
@inproceedings{fixme,
author = {Martin Spindler and Raimund Dachselt},
title = {Towards Pen-based Annotation Techniques for Tangible Magic Lenses Above a Tabletop},
booktitle = {Accompanying DVD of the ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces 2009},
series = {ITS '09},
year = {2009},
month = {11},
location = {Banff, Alberta, Canada},
numpages = {2}
}List of additional material
@inproceedings{fixme,
author = {Martin Spindler and Sophie Stellmach and Raimund Dachselt},
title = {PaperLens: Advanced Magic Lens Interaction Above the Tabletop},
booktitle = {Proceedings of ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces 2009},
series = {ITS '09},
year = {2009},
month = {11},
isbn = {978-1-60558-733-2},
location = {Banff, Alberta, Canada},
pages = {77--84},
numpages = {8},
doi = {10.1145/1731903.1731920},
url = {http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1731903.1731920},
acmid = {1731920},
publisher = {ACM},
address = {New York, NY, USA},
keywords = {interaction techniques, multi-layer interaction, spatially aware displays, tangible interaction, three-dimensional space}
}@misc{fixme,
author = {Martin Spindler and Raimund Dachselt},
title = {Advanced Magic Lens Interaction Above the Tabletop},
booktitle = {TechDemo at ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces 2009},
series = {ITS '09},
year = {2009},
month = {11},
location = {Banff, Alberta, Canada}
}List of additional material
@inproceedings{fixme,
author = {Martin Spindler and Jana Sieber and Raimund Dachselt},
title = {Using Spatially Aware Tangible Displays for Exploring Virtual Spaces},
booktitle = {Proceedings of Mensch und Computer 2009},
year = {2009},
month = {9},
isbn = {978-3-486-59222-1},
location = {Berlin, Germany},
pages = {253----262},
numpages = {10},
publisher = {Oldenbourg Publishing},
address = {M\"{u}nchen, Germany}
}List of additional material
