Gesture-based interactions with virtually embodied wearable computer software processes competing for user attention

One current limitation of wearable computers preventing their use as our everyday companions is directly linked to the interaction mechanisms employed for information selection: interactions with wearable computers are simply not integrated enough into the flow of real world user actions. This paper presents a new interaction paradigm where a user can interact with competing software processes embodied in his/her environment through tangible and meaningful real-world actions. After reminding the need for seamless human-wearable computer interactions, we describe this novel concept, the benefits of using natural actions in a mobile setting and the hardware and software architecture of our current prototype. A preliminary user study shows that this paradigm is well received and even preferred over more conventional, and slower, interaction mechanisms.