Cell Selection for Spreadsheets on Tablets: Stacking-Based Interaction

Spreadsheets on tablet, based on multitouch interaction is tedious and raises multiple interaction issues such as screen size or limited tactile interaction. To answer this limitations, we propose the use of the stacking paradigm, which consists in laying one edge of a smartphone on a tablet screen. It offers the double benefit of augmenting the input vocabulary and extending the display surface. We built a prototype based on a 3D printed shell augmented with copper to detect the smartphone on the tablet screen. We also developed a simplified spreadsheet app on the tablet in which users can select cells using three stacking-based interaction techniques.