Mentor: Chris Aikens, Drew Logsdon
Overview:
Sketching with a pen affords a more natural and intuitive form of computer interaction. The biggest issue, however, is that operating systems are not designed with the pen in mind. The precision of the mouse and the relative standardization of its functions are reflected in such artifacts as file explorers, menu buttons, and browsers. Buttons are often small and rigid, and some features are only available by double clicking or right clicking. Keyboards are also heavily relied upon for OS interaction, as many options and shortcuts require text input. Onscreen keyboards can be employed to allow for pen-based input, but the buttons remain small and input time is increased.
For this project, the team will create a set of pen-friendly applications or artifacts. This requires a strong analysis of current interfaces and pen-friendly alternatives that may already exist. The team will then brainstorm possible interface changes that can be of benefit to pen users and implement them for different software artifacts. Possible artifacts include, but are not limited to, a file browser, a text editor, a menu system, or a web browser. The team will conduct user studies over their proposed interfaces, and will interview current pen users to determine their needs. The team will be expected to incorporate pen-based gestures in their proposal and design. The use of sketches for navigation, search, etc. is also highly encouraged.
Problem Statement:
Design and develop one or more pen-friendly software artifacts.
The team proposal should address:
- What are the software artifacts that will be created?
- What shortcomings are you seeking to rectify with your design? For each proposed artifact you must provide a comparison/breakdown to the currently available piece of software that you want to redesign.
- How will gestures and sketching be incorporated into your design?