Exploring the Use of Tangible User Interfaces for Human-Robot Interaction: A Comparative Study
Cheng Guo, Ehud Charlin. University of Calgary
This paper was a comparison of the efficiency in controlling a robot using two different types of input devices: a set of buttons (aka a keyboard) and a 3d Tangible User Interface (aka a pair of Wii-motes).
There were two tasks that users had to perform for the study using either a keyboard system or the wii-mote+nunchuck system to control a sony AIBO. The first was to navigate through a maze, the second was to make the robot pose in a variety of ways.
Overall the researchers found that the Wii-motes worked slightly better than the keyboard for the navigation task and much better for the posing task. This is likely because there was more of a direct conceptual mapping from the wii-mote motions to the actual motions of the AIBO.
Additionally people preferred the Wii-motes because they generally felt it was easier to remember what commands did what.
In summary I would say that it makes sense to use an input device that has similar constraints to what you are trying to do. If you are controlling something in three dimensions you want something that senses 3d control input. If you are performing a task in 2d then all you need is 2d control ability.
Despite the huge rise in popularity of the Wii-mote thanks to Johnny Lee, this project seems like a worthwhile exploration. I like the tests they did and think their conclusions are valid.
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