TextDraw: a prototype for gestural typesetting

This paper considers a new approach that allows for the creation of typographic works through gestural interaction. It describes a prototype application called TextDraw, which is designed to introduce new techniques for typesetting opened up by gesture and tangible manipulation. Previous work explored the implications of tangible-surface interaction in the context of Surface Games; specifically, how the combination of multi-touch and tangible objects can extend the paradigm of board games in new directions. TextDraw also looks toward tangible-surface interaction and the idea that associating functions to gestures combined with new tangible tools will result in radically new methodologies for design, artistic and poetic expression of typographic works. Furthermore, while artworks created with TextDraw are presented, this paper focuses on the introduction / implication of our prototype.