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Touchscreen Thimbles: Enabling Intuitive Interaction

Authors:
Gerard Briscoe
Jeroen Blom

Keywords: Electrodermal; Conductivity; Skin; Age

Abstract:
We are interested in the challenge that the ever-increasing use of capacitive touchscreens represent. This is because they rely on the electrical properties of the human skin, which changes over time, often becoming less conductive with age. So, we consider the potentially increasing problem this would represent, with a layered model of skin interactions, as a frame from which to conceptualise different classes of approaches and better understand the design requirements. Conscious of the need to retain a sense of touch, rather than a stylus with a conductive tip or gloves with conductive finger tips, we then propose suitable thimbles for touchscreens. We conceptualised a 'touchscreen thimble' to be worn on the body that would maintain a sense of touch. So it would be a pros-palliare, rather than a prosthesis. Developing a 'proof of concept' prototype consisting of a rigid base combined with a conductive fabric for the finger tip, to address the limitations we observed with existing approaches. We conclude by considering the wider potential of our idea in designing a preferable future for touchscreen use. Including, the potential for multiple 'touchscreen thimbles' to be worn simultaneously to support multi-touch gestures, and for them to be worn as an enhancement for able-bodied users.

Pages: 11 to 13

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2016

Publication date: May 22, 2016

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2519-8440

ISBN: 978-1-61208-480-0

Location: Valencia, Spain

Dates: from May 22, 2016 to May 26, 2016