Seminar by Dr. Barrett Ens (University of Manitoba)

Speaker: Dr. Barrett Ens
                Human-Computer Interaction Lab, University of Manitoba

Title: Blending Information Interfaces into our Physical and Social Environments

Date: Friday, February 19th, 2016

Time: 10:30-11:45AM

Place: EV3.309

ABSTRACT

Mark Weiser's early vision for Ubiquitous Computing - to provide seamless, instant and distributed access to computing resources - has been realized to a large extent. We now have inexpensive and abundant information displays, reliable and nearly universal network access, and software for distributed access. Despite these advances, computing activities are still widely confined to the "electronic shells" of flat-panel displays, which have the unintended consequences of drawing our attention and disconnecting us from those around us. My work applies upcoming wearable and augmented reality technologies to achieve Weiser's full vision of
invisible interfaces that permeate our daily activities. To achieve this goal, I draw together interaction design and social computing to provide productive information management tools, while reducing the social barriers of using them.

In my talk, I will introduce my research in the overlooked problem of interface design for the next-generation of information technologies. First I will present Spatial Analytic Interfaces, a design concept for in-situ computer tasks in everyday, mobile contexts. This work explores multiple facets of interface design for see-through head-worn displays. One component describes
a design that distributes virtual information displays in space around the wearer, to allow natural interaction through head and arm motions. The second describes an algorithm for determining how to integrate these displays into nearby surfaces. The final component explores a ring device to reduce fatigue and improve precision during interaction with these virtual surfaces. I will
discuss in-depth user studies we ran to evaluate these designs, followed by a related project that explores how virtual information can be used in conjunction with the variety of input and display devices around us.

In addition to these novel interface designs, I will discuss the increasingly relevant issue in wearable computing of social acceptability. I will describe our design of new interaction techniques using subtle hand-to-face touch, using a user-centric method that elicits design ideas from volunteers. In contrast to this approach, I will present a novel paradigm called Candid Interaction, which aims to eliminate the social barriers of wearable computing by encouraging users to share information about how people are using their devices. I will share our design space exploration that produced seven novel prototype implementations, ranging from practical to
whimsical, that push the boundaries of computer interaction in social settings.

BIO

Barrett Ens is a PhD Candidate at the University of Manitoba under the supervision of Pourang Irani. Barrett has a bachelor's degree in music theory from the University of Calgary. He also holds a BSc in computer science from the University of Manitoba where he later founded the hUManitech student group for exposing new students to HCI. Currently, he is in his second
research internship with the User Interfaces Group at Autodesk Research in Toronto, where he collaborates with some of the most prolific researchers in the field of HCI. Barrett's research bridges several diverse areas of human-computer interaction research, including augmented reality, wearable technology, social computing, visual analytics, and the design of novel interaction techniques. His current focus is the design and development of next-generation interfaces that allow user mobility and encourage human engagement. Barrett's work has received media attention including stories in New Scientist magazine and Discovery Channel's
Daily Planet.