Towards Tangible Virtualities: Tangialities.

Rapid proliferation of different types of interaction devices that use more natural channels (voice, touch, gesture) for interfacing with the digital medium illustrates the trend towards the creation of more "humane" interaction mechanisms. However, the current historical paradox is that modern technological advances are dramatically ahead of our understanding of their possible uses and meaning on a conceptual level. This paper presents an overview of some of the currently available interaction technologies, the conceptual barriers that limit their use and the case for the creation of interaction mechanisms that make abstract (virtual) information more tangible. Topics covered include: (1) direct manipulation, i.e., the use of a mouse (cursor) for pointing at and manipulating graphically represented objects; (2) problems with the traditional interface; (3) multimodal interaction, focusing on ways of making the output in human-computer interaction more tangible by using different sensory channels; (4) barriers and problems associated with building tangialities, the effects on interaction of conflicting, competing, redundant, and complementary information; and the case for building tangialities. (Contains 20 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Register Workshops Sessions Speakers Interactions Demonstrations Exhibits Events Best of the Web Key Dates Boston Sponsors