TactiForm : a touch sensitive actuated shape display as a dynamic interactive user interface for geospatial visual analytic systems

Abstract

Visual analytic systems that use real-time interactive interfaces enable effective problem solving and decision making by supporting intuitive data modelling, visualization, and analysis. In the oil and gas industry, these technologies are essential as they allow expert users to discover valuable insights and actionable information, even as the relevant information becomes increasingly diverse and complex. However, better interactive interfaces are needed to allow any user to effectively work with multivariate information. In this thesis I present TactiForm, a dynamic tangible user interface for geospatial visual analytic systems. In order to develop an effective tangible interface for viewing, selecting, and manipulating multivariate data, I designed a dynamic actuated shape-changing display that incorporates a multi-point multi-surface touch interface. I also developed a grammar of interaction techniques focused around multivariate geospatial data. I am in the process of constructing a 1x6 pin prototype to evaluate its performance as an interactive tool.