Designing Gestural Interfaces
Tap is the New Click
Only six years ago, the gestural interfaces introduced in the film Minority Report were science fiction. Now, because of technological, social, and market forces, we see similar interfaces deployed everywhere, from Nintendo's Wii, to the iPhone, to Microsoft's Surface. But how do you create products for this new paradigm? What do designers and developers need to know to design for interactive gestures? In "Designing Gestural Interfaces", Dan Saffer has created the definitive guide to getting started in interaction design. An internationally known thought leader on design, Saffer covers kinesiology, sensors, ergonomics, physical computing, touchscreen technology, and new interface patterns--all you need to know to augment your existing skills in "traditional" web design, software, or product development.
"The next several years will be seminal years for interaction designers and engineers who will create the next generation of interaction design inputs, possibly defining them for decades to come," explains Saffer. "We will design new ways of interacting with our devices, environment, and even with each other. We have an opportunity that comes along only once in a generation, and we should seize it." Creating this new era of interactive gestures is what Saffer's book is about.
"I wrote this book because, on my third gestural interface project, I was frustrated that I could find only bits and pieces of information about a subject--this subject--that was obviously important and growing rapidly," says Saffer. "Why wasn't there a book about these things? I groused. How come I have no idea how big a touchscreen button needs to be? What is a capacitive touchscreen? What kinds of gestures can I use?"
Full of rich, informative illustrations and color photos, "Designing Gestural Interfaces" will help readers:
Get an overview of technologies surrounding touchscreens and interactive environments
Learn the process of designing gestural interfaces, from documentation to prototyping to communicating to the audience what the product does
Examine current patterns and trends in touchscreen and gestural design
Learn about the techniques used by practicing designers and developers today
See how other designers have solved interface challenges in the past
Look at future trends in this rapidly evolving field
"Saffer shines a light on one of the most important human-technology paradigms of the 21st century: using our bodies as input devices. This book is an essential reference work for anyone looking to advance human-technology interactions beyond dials, knobs, keyboards, and mice."
--Nathan Moody, Design Director, Stimulant
Dan Saffer, a founder and principal of the design firm Kicker Studio, has designed interactive products that are used by millions every day. An internationally recognized thought leader on design, he has spoken at conferences and taught workshops all over the world. Dan holds a master's degree in interaction design from Carnegie Mellon University. Designing Gestural Interfaces
Dan Saffer
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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