Workshop @ Informatik 2006: Mobile and Embedded Interactive Systems (MEIS'06) Author Login | Reviewer Login | Contact Theme & Topics Dates, Deadlines & Submission Organizers & Committee Program Proceedings hcilab.org / events / MEIS'06 Theme & Topics Overview Interaction with mobile devices and embedded systems has become a part of everyday life. As mobile devices get more sophisticated and embedded systems are increasingly interconnected the creation of usable interactive software poses many new challenges. Issues and opportunities arise from emerging novel paradigms in user interfaces. In particular tangible interaction, device and interfaces ecologies, and implicit interaction create new requirements for user centred design and system development.
Topics of interest novel tangible user interfaces and interaction metaphors new interaction techniques for mobile and embedded interactive systems new interface technologies and concepts sensing and actuator technologies for mobile and embedded interactive systems alternative sensory modalities, e.g. auditory and tactile feedback software models and frameworks methods, tools, models and design guidelines for emerging user interfaces validation, evaluation methods and tools for novel user interfaces experience with complex and compound user interfaces ad-hoc user interfaces for multiple device orchestration ad-hoc interaction with embedded systems via handheld devices prototyping mobile and embedded interactive systems experience of creating everyday objects that become user interfaces experience reports on building, using, and deploying mobile and embedded interactive systems
One of the factors inhibiting the mass adoption of zoom lenses in mobile phones is the size and cost of a mechanical zoom. Though Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Casio et al continue to astound us with their ability to further reduce the size of their products, the next major breakthrough in zoom lens miniaturisation will be electrowetting , a technology that enables multiple liquid lenses to combine into a zoom lens, offering significant reductions in size, cost, weight and power consumption.
Liquid lens specialist Varioptic demonstrated the world’s first zoom and auto focus liquid lens for camera phones at the CEBIT 2005 last month. Varioptic, the inventor of the liquid lens, has been working with Samsung to provide auto focus liquid lenses for camera phones, which will be commercially available by the end of 2005. Philips demonstrated an auto-focus liquid lens at CEBIT 2004, but now Varioptic has gone one better and demonstrated the world’s first liquid zoom lens.
“Because our liquid lens has no moving parts, it’s extremely durable, and tailor-made for camera phone environments, where battery power and physical space are limited,” said Etienne Paillard, CEO of Varioptic.
The company demonstrated how a combination of liquid lenses can provide a continuous 2.5X zoom capability, in a package that is less than half the size of conventional zoom lens offerings.
Varioptic’s liquid lenses act similarly to the human eye, in that they can change shape, to zoom or focus automatically, without mechanical aid. The company’s patented electrowetting technology uses electricity to distend or flatten two drops of liquid, to alter the border between the liquids, and focus the lens.
Varioptic’s newly demonstrated zoom capabilities combine multiple liquid lenses, with a driver, sensor and image processor to address magnification, change focus and control aberrations. Both Varioptic’s Zoom and auto-focus liquid lenses share the same market advantages, in terms of size, cost, speed, energy consumption, durability, and quality.
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