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Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ochanomizu University
The Smooth-Curtain was awarded So-net Bronze Prize at 17th Workshop on Interactive Systems and Software (WISS 2009), held from Dec. 2 to 4 in Atami, Japan.
We have proposed a new interface called SmoothCurtain that is suitable for constant use of a remote video communication system in a living environment. To enable switching between conscious and ambient modes of communication smoothly and intuitively, we have adopted a metaphor of a curtain. During communication, SmoothCurtain enables users to control privacy and flexibly change the communication style by opening/closing the curtain.
To switch between the two different modes of communication smoothly and intuitively, we have adopted a metaphor of a curtain and have developed a prototype called SmoothCurtain. It is a video conferencing system through which people can remotely see and talk to each other.
Videos from web-cameras that are placed at each terminal are transmitted to each user via Adobe Flash Media Server. Small curtains are attached in front of the monitor of each terminal. The curtains are attached to the top of the monitor by using Phidgets slider sensors instead of a curtain rail, and data from the sensors are also transmitted via the server.
When curtains on both sides are opened completely, users can see and talk to each other clearly. When one user closes the curtains, his/her image becomes blurred and voice volume is reduced on the other side, depending on the gap between the curtains. In this manner, users can continuously control their privacy by using the curtains.
Our device is unique in that it can be operated intuitively and has an easy-to-understand structure since it is a metaphor of a curtain. Even when one user closes the curtains completely, each user can roughly know the state of the other by seeing through the curtains and looking at the strongly blurred screen. Sometimes this stimulates them to start a new conversation by opening the curtains.
We have installed SmoothCurtain in two rooms of different buildings of our university. More than 10 students have been using the system for two weeks, and the trial is still in progress. During evaluation, they have given considerable positive feedback on usability and improved communication. On the other hand, some of them have reported difficulty in starting a conversation when the curtains on the other side are closed.
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