Time: 4pm, October 24th
Place: Room 110, South Hall

Computer Input: innovation, theoretical modeling, and future exploration

                               Shumin Zhai
         IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California, USA


     This talk will review two aspects of the research on computer input at
the IBM Almaden Research Center: theoretical modelling and futuristic
exploration.

     Concerning theoretical modelling, I will present how we have applied
Fitts' law to guide a Metropolis random walk algorithm in search of the
optimal virtual keyboard for pervasive computing devices. I will then
discuss one limitation of Fitts' law and a thought experiment we 
conducted to overcome the limitation. This thought experiment led to the 
discovery of the steering law, a quantitative human performance model of 
trajectory based human computer interaction tasks.

     Concerning futuristic exploration, I will present MAGIC (Manual
Acquisition with Gaze Initiated Cursor) pointing, a novel human-computer
interaction technique based on eye gaze tracking. I will discuss the pros
and cons of using eye gaze in human computer interaction and how it might
be applied in future human-computer interface design.

                                    Bio

Shumin Zhai is a Research Staff Member at the IBM Almaden Research Center
where he leads research and development of innovative input devices,
interaction techniques, and theoretical modeling of human computer
interaction. He led the research and development of the IBM ScrollPoint (I,
II, III and pro)  Mouse. He coauthored the "Steering law", a break through
result 40 years after the discovery of Fitts' law. He also serves on the
international editorial board of the journal "Personal Technologies". In
2000, he serves on 6 conference committees, including CHI'2000 (associate
chair for papers). He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of
Toronto where he worked on 3D interfaces and 6 degrees of freedom input
control. Most of his publications can be found at
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/u/zhai/