Non-rigid surface detection for gestural interaction with applicable surfaces

In this work we present a novel application of non-rigid surface detection to enable gestural interaction with applicable surfaces. This method can add interactivity to traditionally passive media such as books, newspapers, restaurant menus, or anything else printed on paper. We allow a user to interact with these surfaces in a natural manner and present basic gestures based on pointing and touching. This technique was developed as part of an ongoing effort to create an assisted reading device for the visually impaired. However, it is suited to general applications and can be used as a practical mechanism for interaction with screen-less wearable devices. Our key contributions are a unique application of non-rigid surface detection, a basic gesturing paradigm, and a proof of concept system.