SUI -Strawlike User Interface-

Straw-like User Interface (SUI) is an evolutionary interface system that allows us to virtually experience the sensations of drinking. These sensations are created based on referencing sample data of actual pressure, vibration and sound produced by drinking from an ordinary straw attached to the system.

【SUI】 【Scene of experience at SUI】

contact : suihi.mce.uec.ac.jp

Introduction

【Penfield's map】

Parts of the cerebral cortex in the parietal lobe are involved with processing information related to touch. One such area is the primary somatosensory cortex. A map of the human somatosensory cortex was drawn by Dr. Wilder Penfield shows that our lips are among the most sensitive areas, therefore it is also possible to treat it as an excellent sensory device.
For this reason, our research aims for the establishment of the method of novel information transmission using our lips.

Currently, we are conducting research on the sensations of mouth and lips during drinking from straws. And thus we developed the Straw-like User Interface (SUI) that could transmit virtual drinking sensations to the user.

About SUI

The virtual drinking sensations accomplished by SUI are obtained by exerting pressure and vibration change to our mouth thru the control of valve and speaker.

'Pressure control'
The valves control the opening and closing of the solenoid motor and thus controlling pressure change in the SUI system. Moreover, the transmission part of a small servomotor was installed with an oval-shape sheet to push the valve to make a slight space that makes pressure change more smoothly.

'Vibration'
A straw is adhered to the speaker that gives out sound vibration based on sampled sound data and thus produced appropriate vibration at the straw.

'Food data'
In order to reproduce accurate virtual drinking sensations, we first drank various food tastes by straw and recorded necessary data. We then used it for the operation of SUI so it becomes possible for acquiring high accuracy in the reality of virtual drinking sensations.


When experiencing the use of SUI, an integration of pictures of the food, sound and sensory feedback from SUI gives promising virtual drinking sensations to the user.

【Mechanism of SUI】 【Scene of sampling】

For IVRC

【Concept Art】

The work entitled "Conspiratio" displayed at IVRC was aimed for providing people the experience of virtual drinking sensations.

[Content]
Various funny animals carry different foods around. When you captured and drank the food by SUI, you can experience virtual drinking sensations.
-It is reproduced by the mechanism in SUI-

If the animal is also drank in with the food, then it will struggle within SUI.
-Such struggling is produced by the motor's vibrating in SUI and can be felt by our hands while holding it-

While the animal is struggling inside SUI, simply blow toward the screen and the animal will return to where it belongs.
-The sensation of blowing also varies with different animals inside SUI-

Moreover, the food that you want to drink can be requested. Also the mode to just drink food can be arranged. Therefore, various interesting virtual drinking experiences are possible.

【General view of Conspiratio】 【Rear Projection Snapshot】 【Experience Conspiratio】

[System]
The system of "Conspiratio" is composed of the following three.
1. Screen    2. Image processi    3. SUI

1. Screen
The images are projected to a big screen. In order to achieve 60 inches by a short distance of 2m, the projection light is made to reflect by using three mirrors.

2. Image processing
Infrared LED is installed in four corners of the screen and SUI, and then a CCD camera under the screen captures the infrared light. By image processing, the distance from the screen to SUI and the position of SUI can be recognized.

3. SUI
SUI is controlled by one microcomputer. In order to synchronize the operation of SUI including image and sound, information exchange is achieved by serial communication with a PC.

【System】 【The other side of screen】

Data

Promotion video of "Conspiratio"(mpg)

Promotion video of "Conspiratio"(zip)