Tech Focus: The future of mobile & embedded UI design
HIGHLIGHTS
Gesture recognition–first step toward 3D UIs?
The challenges of multi-touch gesture interfaces
Understanding electromagnetic interference sources in touchscreens
Editor's Note
In the December ESD Magazine cover story on “The challenges of multi-touch gesture interfaces , ” Tom Gray of Ocular LCD outlines the problems developers face in integrating gesture recognition into their new designs. In a companion article, “Gesture recognition: first step toward 3D UIs?” Dong-Ik Ko and Gaurav Agarwal of TI detail some of the 3D techniques that are emerging as follow-ups to touch and gesture interfaces.
In this issue are a number of design articles, columns, white papers ,and online seminars and classes on some of the approaches developed to deal with the issues raised in these two ESD articles, of which my Editor's Top Picks are:
Adapting UI designs to multiple device display needs Use projected capacitive displays for durable gesture UIs Demonstration of a gesture-controlled media player A wireless 3D gesture and character recognition system
I've also found a number of papers published recently by researchers on various UI techniques and schemes you can expect to see in the near future, downloadable free as PDFs :
User-defined gestures for surface computing Adaptive User Interfaces for Web Applications A UI with semantic tactile feedback for mobile devices User-defined gestures for connecting mobile phones
User interface technologies are an exciting and fecund area of development, especially as embedded designs continue to proliferate into every aspect of our lives. I would like to continue to hear from you about your ideas for design articles or columns that would be useful to the rest of the embedded developer community.
Design How-Tos
Gesture recognition–first step toward 3D UIs?
Gesture recognition is the first step to fully 3D interaction with computing devices. The authors outline the challenges and techniques to overcome them in embedded systems.
The challenges of multi-touch gesture interfaces
The key to understanding multi-touch touch panels is to realize that a touch is not the same thing as a mouse click.
Using projected capacitive displays to create durable gesture-based touch screen interfaces
How projected capacitive technology can be applied to touch screens in embedded apps where the harshness of the environment might wreak havoc on older resistive touch screens.
Making capacitive touch sensors water tolerant
In this Product How-To article, Mark Lee of Cypress uses the company's CY8C21434 PSoC to explain the methods by which to integrate water tolerant capacitive sensors into consumer white goods where operation in wet environments is important.
Design capacitive touch systems for robustness and manufacturability
In this Product How-To design article, Jean Viljoen of Azoteq, details the EMI and other challenges of designing capacitive touch user interfaces and how to use the company's ProxSense auto tuning technology to negate the need for calibration.
Waking up a capacitive touch-sensing device with an MCU peripheral
When a capacitive touch screen goes into sleep or standby mode to save energy, how can you design the system to wake up quickly without degrading its performance or burning a lot of power. Here are two options: a traditional method and a new MCU-based method.
Adapting UI designs to multiple embedded/mobile device display needs
The key elements and approaches needed to build user interfaces to meet the varying display requirements of mobile devices and any embedded system with a display and GUI.
Understanding electromagnetic interference sources in touchscreens
Vadim Konradi of Silicon Labs reviews the various EMI problems associated with projected-capacitance touchscreens in today's portable devices. The author then outlines design and optimization techniques to deal with the interference coupling paths.
Control an iPod with gestures
Use general body motion to control the iPod as opposed to the standard touch control to extend usability. This approach requires no dexterous manipulation, only general movements.
Beyond touch: Delivering advanced UI features
Three trending capabilities are support for a resistive stylus replacement (RSR), waterproofing, and hover functionality. By incorporating these features into their handsets, OEMs can deliver a truly advanced UI – one that goes beyond just touch.
Touchless gesturing brings innovation to product designs
Understand how and why multi-axis infrared proximity sensing will drive the next generation of user interfaces
Android-based platforms–Four important tips for UI development
Android is available. What now? How do I maximize user experience by focusing on UI development? Here are four important tips.
Intuitive user interfaces rely on complex operating systems for standard features
From industrial control to home appliances and handheld devices, there is a continuing trend towards embedding increasing degrees of both intelligence and connectivity into all kinds of end products. As a result, increasing numbers of embedded designers are required to design relatively complex graphical user interfaces
Touch-screen technologies enable greater user/device interaction
Understand the workings of capacitive- and resistive-screen sensing, as well as the role of haptics
Embedded Systems Bookshelf
Excerpts
Embedded Books Reading Room Bernard Cole's favorite links to book excerpts.
Reviews
Engineer's Bookshelf Airport fiction blows. A look at books other engineers are reading and why you should read them, too. Recommend and write a review yourself. E-mail Brian Fuller.
Jack Ganssle's Bookshelf A list of book reviews by Jack Ganssle, contributing technical editor of Embedded Systems Design and Embedded.com.
Max's Cool Beans Clive “Max” Maxfield, the editor on Programmable Logic DesignLine, often writes about interesting books.
Products
Atmel expands 32-bit AVR MCU portfolio
Atmel Corp. has added 13 devices to 3 different product series in its 32-bit AVR UC3 product portfolio. As well as adding devices to the existing UC3 L and UC3 A Series, the UC3 D Series of MCUs has been introduced.
Samsung mSATA SSDs target ultra-slim notebooks
Samsung reports that its new mSATA SSDs with the latest multi-core processors will help PC manufacturers improve performance of ultrabook-class portable PCs up to that of notebook PCs.
High-Performance SPI serial EEPROM targets automotive apps
Seiko claims industry's highest-level performance of 300,000 data-writes and 50-year data retention at 125 C
Movea's GestureBuilder enables gesture control in broad range of consumer electronics
Movea has announced it is making gesture recognition and gesture database design capabilities available to consumer electronic OEMs and systems integrators though its GestureBuilder software.
Atmel brings stylus interface to tablets, mobile handsets
In a bid to revolutionize mobile and embedded consumer device touch-based user interfaces, Atmel has developed the maXStylus of stylus touch controllers.
QuickLogic's new CSSPs solve HD display bridging issues in mobile device designs
LVDS, RGB and MIPI DSI interface bridging capabilities; supports up to WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution; improves battery life and enhances bright sunlight viewability…
|