PROTOTOUCH a system for prototyping ubiquitous computing environments mediated by touch

Abstract

Computers as we know them are fading into the background. However, interaction modalities developed for "foreground" computer systems are beginning to seep into the day-to-day interactions that people have with each other and the objects around them. The Prototouch system allows user interface designers to quickly prototype systems of ubiquitous computing devices which utilize touch and gesture based interactions popularized by the recent explosion of multitouch-enabled smartphones, enabling the user to act as container, token, and tool for the manipulation and transportation of abstract digital information between these devices. Two versions of the system utilizing different network topologies have been created, and several example applications utilizing the system have been developed.