ParaGlassMenu: Towards Social-Friendly Subtle Interactions in Conversations

What is it about?

Ever noticed how digital devices, e.g., phones, can disrupt conversations? We developed a solution to minimize these distractions. To help you balance both digital and social interaction needs, we proposed the ParaGlassMenu, a semi-transparent menu displayed on smart glasses around the face of the person you're talking to. It's controlled by a special ring on your finger. We tested this system in simulated conversations while controlling smart home devices. The ParaGlassMenu was compared to traditional methods like smartphones, voice assistants, or other menus on the glasses. The ParaGlassMenu performed best, allowing users to stay engaged in their conversations while also interacting with their devices. We confirmed these results in a more realistic setting using everyday smart devices. The ParaGlassMenu was both useful and socially acceptable. Our work suggests this new method could help us balance the digital interaction needs and social interaction needs.

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Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash