A Non-Touchscreen Tactile Wearable Interface as an Alternative to Touchscreen-Based Wearable Devices

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology
• Interface Design

Background:

• Smartwatches predominantly use touchscreen interfaces, limiting intuitive control.
• Existing touchscreens on wearables present usability challenges and limitations.
• A need exists for alternative, more tactile user interfaces for wearable devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a non-touchscreen tactile wearable interface as an alternative to current smartwatch touchscreens.
• To design and implement a joystick-integrated smartwatch prototype for a tactile interface.
• To evaluate the feasibility and usability of the proposed tactile wearable interface.

Main Methods:

• Designed and implemented a joystick-integrated smartwatch prototype.
• Iteratively refined the prototype to enhance interaction and integration.
• Compared prototype form factors with nine commercial smartwatches.
• Assessed response time and accuracy of the tactile wearable interface.

Main Results:

• The joystick-integrated smartwatch prototype demonstrated a feasible non-touchscreen tactile interface.
• Comparative analysis of form factors showed potential for compact integration.
• Response time and accuracy metrics support the usability of the tactile interface.

Conclusions:

• The proposed tactile wearable user interface offers a viable alternative to traditional touchscreens.
• This interface can enable diverse cross-device interaction scenarios and applications.
• The tactile interface presents a cohesive interaction device for future wearable technology.