Non-traditional interaction environments for information exploration

Summary form only given. Developments in technology are providing new opportunities for interaction techniques. A decade ago, virtual reality spaces became more readily available. This gave researchers the opportunity to experiment with physical movement and gesture as interface elements for data exploration and navigation in both physical and abstract information spaces. Subsequent developments in projector and camera technologies, and computer vision algorithms, have opened up possibilities for brighter work environments and optically tracked user interaction. Current trends in technology include robust wireless networks, a plethora of personal information access devices, and auto-identification technologies. Computing technology is rapidly becoming smaller and cheaper, suggesting that computing capability can be embedded throughout the physical world in which we live. As we populate a physical space with computing devices, we can create interaction spaces that are aware of our presence, aware of our activities, and proactive in assisting us with our tasks. This talk reflects on the ongoing evolution that moves us beyond traditional desktop computer interfaces towards smart interaction spaces.