Shape-Changing Control Interface Design: Augmenting Physical Affordances to Enhance a Digital Interface Experience in Cross-Device Interaction

Multiple distributed interfaces in cross-device interaction increase users' cognitive load when switching from one device to another. A clear spatial reference and physical affordances can help reduce additional cognitive efforts users pay in a multi-device system. However, increasing physical affordances may adversely affect users' cognitive process in comprehending the desired interaction. By providing physical affordances in sequential order, interfaces can limit the number of physical affordances at one affordance for each step of the interaction. When assisted by digital contents, these sequential physical affordances can better communicate possible actions of an interface. Tangible Dial, an integrated control interface system with a shape-changing dial and digital displays, was designed and tested with users to validate the principle of spatial references and sequential affordances in cross-device interaction.