From luxury to necessity: Progress of touchless interaction technology

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Emerging Technologies
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic heightened hygiene concerns, accelerating the adoption of touchless technologies.
• Traditional interfaces like touchscreens pose hygiene risks in shared or public spaces.
• Zero User Interface (Zero UI) offers a solution for contactless interaction with technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the progress and impact of touchless interaction technology.
• To highlight the role of Zero UI in addressing hygiene concerns post-pandemic.
• To analyze the acceleration of Zero UI development driven by recent global health events.

Main Methods:

• Review of advancements in image recognition and natural language processing.
• Analysis of the integration of computer vision and machine learning in interface design.
• Exploration of various Zero UI interaction modes: voice, gesture, eye tracking, biometrics.

Main Results:

• Zero UI adoption has surged, driven by the need for hygienic, contactless interactions.
• Touchless technologies are transitioning from a convenience to a critical requirement.
• Smart devices, IoT, and robotics increasingly incorporate Zero UI features.

Conclusions:

• Touchless technology, exemplified by Zero UI, is a vital innovation for public health and future human-computer interaction.
• The pandemic has permanently shifted the perception and necessity of Zero UI.
• Continued advancements in AI and machine learning will further enhance Zero UI capabilities.