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
![layer_body_147](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/layer_body_147.jpg)
![layer_body_146](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/layer_body_146.jpg)
![layer_body_145](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/layer_body_145.jpg)
![layer_body_144](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/layer_body_144.jpg)
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
![zoom_leaf_102](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/zoom_leaf_102.jpg)
![zoom_leaf_113](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/zoom_leaf_113.jpg)
![zoom_solothurn_114](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/zoom_solothurn_114.jpg)
![zoom_solothurn_118](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/zoom_solothurn_118.jpg)
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
![temporal_bunny_159](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/temporal_bunny_159.jpg)
![temporal_bunny_7903](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/temporal_bunny_7903.jpg)
![temporal_bunny_7901](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/temporal_bunny_7901.jpg)
![temporal_bunny_7899](https://imld.de/cnt/uploads/temporal_bunny_7899.jpg)
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