Tangible query interfacesBrygg Ullmer, Zachary Malchano, and Professor Hiroshi Ishii / 2002
This project is developing new means for querying relational
databases and live datastreams through the manipulation of physical objects. Parameterized
query fragments are embodied as physical tokens (“parameter wheels”). These tokens
are manipulated, interpreted, and graphically augmented on a series of sliding
racks. Token rotation maps to parameter selection; token adjacencies maps to Boolean
AND/OR operations; token ordering maps to result sorting; and individual racks
map to parenthetical groupings. The interface should support querying to a wide
range of relational databases; initial target domains include media databases,
network management, and bioinformatics.