Theoretically-Defined vs. User-Defined Squeeze Gestures

• Published in: Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction 2022-11, Vol.6 (ISS), p.73-102, Article 559
• Main Authors: Villarreal-Narvaez, Santiago, Sluÿters, Arthur, Vanderdonckt, Jean, Mbaki Luzayisu, Efrem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computing methodologies; Gestural input; Graphical user interface languages; Graphical user interfaces; Human-centered computing; Interactive systems and tools; Model development and analysis; Runtime environments; Software and its engineering
• ISSN: 2573-0142; 2573-0142
• DOI: 10.1145/3567805

This paper presents theoretical and empirical results about user-defined gesture preferences for squeezable objects by focusing on a particular object: a deformable cushion. We start with a theoretical analysis of potential gestures for this squeezable object by defining a multi-dimension taxonomy of squeeze gestures composed of 82 gesture classes. We then empirically analyze the results of a gesture elicitation study resulting in a set of N=32 participants X 21 referents = 672 elicited gestures, further classified into 26 gesture classes. We also contribute to the practice of gesture elicitation studies by explaining why we started from a theoretical analysis (by systematically exploring a design space of potential squeeze gestures) to end up with an empirical analysis (by conducting a gesture elicitation study afterward): the intersection of the results from these sources confirm or disconfirm consensus gestures. Based on these findings, we extract from the taxonomy a subset of recommended gestures that give rise to design implications for gesture interaction with squeezable objects.