12-06-2014, 12:54 PM
An Electronic Voting System for Haptic Touchscreen Interface
An Electronic Voting System.pdf (Size: 777.05 KB / Downloads: 9)
Abstract
Various haptic displays are becoming available for
implementing a new kind of human computer interaction (HCI)
method. Among many types and models, touch panel displays
have been used in wide variety of applications and are proven to
be a useful interface infrastructure. In spite of their popularity,
there are some weak points. The most serious drawback is their
hardness to operate especially for the weak users in information
technology such as the elderly and blind users. The tactile
feedback function has a potential ability for enabling the weak to
make full use of the devices. We propose an approach for
effectively designing user-friendly haptic applications especially
targeted at supporting the weak users. We exemplify our
approach through the design and development of an electronic
voting system. The system uses a touch panel haptic display for
helping the weak to operate with straightforward touch
sensations. It allows them to easily confirm, select, and vote their
supporting candidate without any assisters. We also conducted a
preliminary evaluation to verify the effectiveness of the system.
INTRODUCTION
Touch panel interface is becoming a popular technology in
many fields. It has been used in specific application systems
such as ATMs (automated teller machines), museum displays,
and ticketing counters in airports and stations for a while. Now
it consolidates its position as a general-purpose interface used
in notebook PCs, PDAs (personal digital assistants), and cellphones
[1]. Figure 1 shows an example touch screen usage in a
mobile notebook, the Sony VGN-U70P notebook (Pentium M-
733 1.1GHz, 512MB MMU, 5 inch LCD display with SVGA,
and Windows XP running). The figure shows that a user is
manipulating a 3D geometrical model via touch interactions.
The user can easily moves, rotates, zooms in and out, and
some other 3D operations by directly touching and dragging
the model.
APPLICATIONS SCENARIO
Although the haptic technology is becoming an important
building block for implementing effective and easy-to-use
interface, acquiring the state of principal modality along with
audio-visual interface seems distant. A reason preventing the
popularization of the haptic technology is that practical haptic
applications are not clearly defined. Human touch sensation
(somatic sensation) has a wider dynamic range and fewer
findings in psychology and cognitive science than other
sensations. Most ongoing research projects focus on
implementing new devices, control methodologies, and basic
software toolkits. The promotion of the haptic technology
utilization, however, needs a scenario for defining application
level research issues and their potential applications.
Accordingly, we are conducting our research project with the
application development scenario as shown in Figure 3. The
following prototype systems are planned or currently under
development.
CONCLUSIONS
We proposed an approach for effectively sharing different
types of haptic devices and designing various haptic
applications. We exemplified our approach through the design
and development of an electronic voting system. The system
uses an easy-to-use touch panel display with embedded tactile
feedback function. It allows the weak in information
technology such as the elderly and blind users to easily
confirm, select, and vote their supporting candidates without
any assistance. We conducted a preliminary experiment for
verifying whether the system can generate tactile effect
vocabulary effective for discriminating multiple candidates
only through touch sensations. Although our project is at an
early stage, the result is promising. Because we are also
working on developing some other practical application
systems and tactile effect design tools [14], we would also like
to conduct more thorough evaluations by using other
applications and tools in the near future.