Where am I? Investigating Compound Textile User Interfaces for Eyes-Free Use

Abstract

The haptic properties of textile interfaces support eyes-free use well. However, user interfaces often require composing many controls, which complicates orientation by palpation. We investigated three composition concepts that combine textile components in different ways, using a sample smart home scenario: One uses the select-and-control flow of universal remotes, one resembles the users' environment, and one divides the interface into application sections. Of the latter, we also created a spacious variant to observe the effect of blank space between interface regions. We first explored how well users understand those composition concepts when first using the interface eyes-free. After familiarization, we measured input performance and preferences. We found task completion times much faster than expected from previous recognition studies. While performance was similar for most interfaces, the select-and-control flow was slower, but participants preferred it after familiarization. From our findings, we derive design recommendations for compound textile UIs and individual components.