Revisiting hovering: interaction guides for interactive surfaces

Abstract

Current touch-based interactive surfaces rely heavily on a trial-and-error approach for guiding users through the interaction process. In contrast, the legacy WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer) paradigm employs various methods to provide user assistance. A commonly used strategy is the use of mouse hovering. This research explores how this strategy can be adapted and expanded to user interaction with interactive surfaces to provide user assistance as well as to help address common surface interaction issues, such as precisions. Design dimensions and considerations are discussed, and potential hover interaction techniques are proposed. These techniques emphasize the use of animation to facilitate user engagement and improve the overall user experience.