My CHI 2016 submission, “Do That There: An Interaction Technique for Addressing In-Air Gesture Systems“, has been conditionally accepted! The paper covers the final three studies in my PhD, where I developed and evaluated a technique for addressing in-air gesture systems.

To address a gesture system is to direct input towards it; this involves finding where to perform gestures and how to specify the system you intend to interact with (so that other systems do not act upon your gestures). Do That There (a play on one of HCI’s most famous gesture papers, Put That There) allows both of these things: it shows you where to perform gestures, using multimodal feedback (there) and it shows you how to identify the system you want to gesture at (do that).

Three months ago I started working on the ABBI (Audio Bracelet for Blind Interaction) project as a post-doctoral researcher. The ABBI project is developing wearable technology for blind and visually impaired children. Our role at Glasgow is to investigate sound design and novel interactions which use the technology, focusing on helping visually impaired kids. Recently, we’ve presented our research and ideas to the RNIB TechShare conference and to members of SAVIE, an association focusing on the education of visually impaired children.

Finally, I submitted my PhD thesis in September although I’m still waiting for my final examination. Unfortunately it’s not going to be happening in 2015 but I’m looking forward to getting that wrapped up soon.