Understanding Deformable-Gestures Using Paper Prototyping With Children

Background/Objectives: This preliminary study presents the process and outputs from a paper prototyping activity aimed at understanding deformation-based gestures amongst children aged 5-6 years old. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This is done by observing them interacting with an artificial deformable object i.e. paper. As a result, we obtained childdefined deformable-gestures that will help with the design and implementation of Organic User Interfaces (OUI) in the future, without considering the current technical level and challenges. A flexible or deformable interface is a type of OUI where when flexible displays are deployed; shape deformation like bending is a key form of input. Findings: Upon completing this preliminary study, it is found that children are very much influenced by existing methods like swiping on the screen, pressing on physical buttons and others as compared to using gestures. The results show that the most common gestures are bending upwards and downwards and unfolding. However, there is difference in preference on using paper in real life in portrait format as in this paper it is found that all the children have held their “device” in landscape format. Although the definition and contribution of deformable display is still in its infancy, the use in this study of children of a preschool age has shown that even at an early stage in their development the children’s actions were intuitive. Application/ Improvements: To use a more interactive interface and to include more variables to provide a better of the use of the displays in the future. Lastly is to include a larger sample size.