Analysis of Physicality Aspects in Physical User Interfaces of Embedded Systems

Abstract

Embedded systems are becoming more significant in our daily lives with the advent of ubiquitous computing. The increasing demands of multifarious functionalities and other factors lead to an increased focus of development on internal software issues. Negligence towards the interaction aspects of physical interface is resulting in the generation of interaction complexities for the user. This work evaluates, compares, and highlights the significance of physicality aspects of embedded system interfaces using five subjects including; washing machine; camera; oven; sound system; and MP3 player. The quantitative evaluation approach helps in a simple investigation by applying the numeric values for each aspect. The result analysis highlights the significance of exposed state, tangible transition, and inverse action over other physicality aspects. This study is especially valuable for the embedded system developers who may not have exposure or expertise to Human–Computer Interaction or its sub–field, Physicality. Managing and incorporating physicality aspects in embedded systems is a key factor for producing natural interaction products.