Topic: "HE-Book: A Prototype Haptic Interface for Immersive E-Book Reading Experience"

Abstract:
In this seminar we will present an intuitive approach of annotation based haptic interaction with the traditional digital learning materials such as ebooks. The research targets to bring a multi-sensory interface consisting of perceptual, cognitive and vibrotactile interactions with the digital reading contents. It leverages the previously developed haptic jacket to receive haptic emotive signals wirelessly in the form of patterned vibrations of the actuators in order to pave ways for intimate reading experience for the readers in various ebook platforms. We will present a preliminary prototype exploring the suitability of haptic feedbacks in a ebook device that generates tactile feedbacks when an annotated part of the ebook content is read by a user. When a user interacts with the annotated parts, the system provides distinct vibrotactile effect through a wearable haptic jacket. We incorporated manual haptic annotation of the e-book content with three different type of haptic stimulations from our previous work. We evaluated user’s acceptance of the system using standard usability test methods and found that there is a positive tendency of accepting such interactive experiences in e-book handheld device.