[на рус.яз. см. предыдущий пост]
In
this part let's talk about the interfaces of electronic devices.
Outset that we will not consider the time in the
future, when a person becomes part of a computer or computer becomes part of
man. In addition, it should be noted that the interface of mobile devices
(smartphones, tablets, etc.) and computers is gradually becoming common, so
let's consider just a computer interface.
Classically
we always distinguish between information input devices and information output
devices. But with the advent of touchscreens the difference between these
concepts began to fade. So in this post, we are primarily interested in control
of the computer and interaction between human and device regardless of the
method of information output (projector, transparent screen or hologram).
Let us
give some examples of interfaces of the future.
First
there is the vision of designers and developers of mobile interfaces of the
future.
Mozilla Searbird
Empathy BlackBerry
Amazing Screen Technology: Samsung Flexible AMOLED
It so
happened that a sample of the user interface of the future in mass media,
including professional media, is the interface that was used the character of
Tom Cruise in the movie «Minority Report».
«Minority Report»
Next,
we present two lectures from TED, which refer to this film. «Sixth sense
technology» of Pattie Maes, MIT professor, head of the group of Media Lab, is
an interesting video as a simple kit costing only $ 350 with software and Internet
connection can greatly change our lives, including replacing a number of
everyday items.
«Sixth sense technology» Pattie Maes
And
there is a lecture of the inventor John Underkoffler, Chief Scientist of Oblong
Industries, who worked in MIT Media Lab, who was the scientific adviser of
movies Minority Report, Iron Man, The Hulk, Aeon Flux. John demonstrates
similar interface The g-speak platform directly on the lecture.
John Underkoffler points to the future UI
A
variant of development of this platform is product Mezzanine, which was
recently presented as a spatial operating environment for collaborative
multi-user work.
Mezzanine
It
should be mentioned that in October 2011 Microsoft introduced technology
OmniTouch, which enables you to project a multi-touch graphical user interface
to almost any surface.
OmniTouch
For a
long time, many inventors, laboratories and companies explore this area and
periodically introduce the public with the results and their vision of user
interfaces.
Thus,
the Swedish group TAT, which in December 2010 became a part of Research In
Motion (BlackBerry, PlayBook), presented his vision of the user interface for
mobile devices.
TAT Mobile UI
One
occasion Cisco has presented its vision of shopping.
The Future of Shopping from Cisco
Incidentally,
in May 2011 in
Moscow TopShop established a virtual fitting room in his flagship store in the
mall "European". Fitting room was made by AR Door, an official
representative of Total Immersion (France) in Russia
Researches
at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are developing future operational
environments for the emergency management community called Precision
Information Environments (or PIEs).
It is
also interesting to see a concept video of the Japan
World Cup, the Next Generation (Concept Video of Japan
More
recently at the end of October 2011 Microsoft presented its vision of user
interfaces.
Microsoft's Vision of the Future
So, if
the modes of interaction or control classified, we obtain the following.
1) The
existing traditional control methods.
Now we
use keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchpads, joysticks, remote controls, etc.
Pros
and cons of such control are well known.
2)
Voice control.
It
should be noted that the voice output of information is quite affordable, the
computer can talk.
It is
much harder with voice input. It is considered that the problems with the
recognition of words are almost solved. Of course there are linguistic features
and specific user characteristics, but finely tuned program recognizes words
without much problems. Of course if there is a large base of words and
expressions, that located in a "cloud", in recognition system
servers, which are accessible through the Internet. But in the present
interpretation of recognized words is poor, because it requires artificial
intelligence, sooner or later.
However,
this factor does not stop the developers. Quite a long time, there are special
programs on the websites of some companies. The so-called robots-assistants
answer visitors' questions. For example, Apple introduced system Siri for voice
recognition together with its new iPhone 4S.
Apple iPhone 4S Siri Demo
The
advantages of voice control: intuitiveness of simple commands, free hands and
free eyes.
Disadvantages
of voice control: slow input of complex commands, high probability of errors,
in the general case impossibility of plug'n'play due to the need of forming the
base of commands and settings to a specific user.
At
present voice control is suitable for more or less simple situations, such as
smart home.
3) Gesture control.
This
type of control has become known to masses primarily due to Microsoft Kinect,
by the way in a short time this device will be released not only for the game
console Xbox, but for ordinary computers and other electronic devices.
The Kinect effect
Advantages
of gesture control: contactless control, intuitiveness of a large number of
commands.
Disadvantages
of gesture control: the need to initiate, low accuracy of gesture recognition,
the need to remember of non-obvious gestures, high probability of errors,
absence of common standards for use and display gestures.
At present
gesture control is most appropriate to control various media devices.
4) BCI
- Brain-Computer Interface.
Scientists
have begun to explore the possibilities of this type of control in the early
twentieth century. Naturally prototype of BCI device is a polygraph or lie
detector.
The
best known device is EPOC by Emotiv, which is already available in the shop.
This device is a headset with sensors that uses EEG technology.
EPOC – EEG Navigation
Advantages
of BCI: potentially the fastest command input, potentially the possibility of
command input of any complexity, free hands and free eyes.
Disadvantages
of BCI: complex implementation, additional devices (sensors, helmets, etc.),
high probability of errors, special attention to safety in the control of real
objects, the need to calibrate for a particular user.
In
principle BCI may be suitable for control of any devices. Soon we'll see it and try, for sure
it will be very exciting. In the near future, vendors will focus on applying
this technology in gaming and navigation.
4) Other
types of controls, including the rather exotic.
We present an example.
Perhaps
you've seen the latest film Mission University
of Washington
Apple iLens Concept
And now
imagine if we combine this technology with the technology of eye movement
control. Then we do not need any screens and any controllers!
A
consortium of Australian scientists Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) has moved a
step further, they produced chip, essentially replacing the eye. The chip is
implanted into the eye of a blind man and sends a signal from a special camera
in the glasses directly into the brain. It is obvious that the integration will
take place this system with the BCI. The result of this combination will be
part of the future human.
One more example.
Rosalind
Picard's research from MIT Media Lab dedicated to changes in the interaction
between human and computer by building emotional interfaces, affective
computers. This research based on the works in which describes the involuntary
microexpressions, vocal emotional expression and galvanic skin response of man.
If you are using emotional interface the security system will react to the man
fear, the game console will be able to adjust the difficulty level in response
to user frustration, the music player will be able to compile a playlist that
corresponding to the mood of the listener.
Let us
formulate some tendencies of development of perspective interfaces.
At the
present stage of development of alternative interfaces, we are confronted with
the fact that there is a need for additional confirmation of important and
critical commands, including for safety purposes, and through the traditional
methods (using the mouse, keyboard, keypad, etc.). Combinations of different methods and devices will be used in the
control still quite a long time.
Perhaps
in the near future vendors will release interfaces that can be changed as
advanced users and beginners. For example, you can replace all the items by
selecting a profile (such as in a mobile phone) or can replace the individual
elements (color, size, font, labels, form buttons, etc.). Probably there will be interfaces that can be changed by users.
Undoubtedly
we will see specialization of interfaces. Professional interfaces will be more
complex, using a variety of additional devices (gloves, handling, control
panels, etc.), and will specialize in areas of activity, operator functions,
etc. Further the interfaces will be
divided into consumer and professional, which will be subdivided by
specialization.
Recently
an intuitive interface was considered most appropriate. At the moment the trend
of expansion of adaptive interfaces is the most actual. Here is an analogy with
the robotic automatic transmission of car, which adapts to the type of driving
a particular driver. Previously, the user intuitively operated, and now the
system adapts and adjusts the commands. At the same time the adaptive interface
solves several problems: superfluous complexity of the interface, the excessive
choice, varying degree of user training, etc. Adaptive interfaces will be developed.
Virtual
fitting rooms, navigators, which projecting the image on the windshield of the
car, transparent displays are evidence of penetration of augmented reality in
our lives. Augmented reality will be
used in most interfaces.
And, of
course, this area will be exposed to gamification, including
professional interfaces, and especially mobile and web-interfaces. Gamification will affect a large number of
interfaces.
In
conclusion, we must mention two factors that influence the development of
interfaces the opposite. The first factor is a constant complication of devices
and services, which results to a complication of interfaces in principle. The
second factor is the further penetration of the same devices and services in
more countries, in different social strata and age groups, which results to a
simplification of interfaces in principle. Presumably, the average user will
not be overloaded interfaces. Mass user
interfaces will be simple.
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