Extensible, Extendable, Expandable, Extractable: The 4E Design Approach for Reconfigurable Displays

ABSTRACT

We introduce “4E,” a new design approach of reconfigurable displays that can change their form factors by capitalizing on four quality properties inspired by applied material: extensibility, extendability, expandability, and extractability. This approach is applicable to both fixed and portable displays. We define and exemplify each property, highlighting the key differences in how reconfigurable displays can change their form factors to accommodate more screen real estate for more users, applications, and functionality. To demonstrate the 4E approach, we conduct a targeted literature review and introduce E3Screen, a prototype that enhances any flat screen (e.g., of a tablet, laptop, monitor) with two slidable, rotatable, and foldable lateral displays. We report results from a controlled experiment with $N=103$ participants, conducted to collect, analyze, and understand end users’ preferences for display configurations permitted by the extendability, expandability, and extractability of E3Screen. Our results structure future research and development in reconfigurable displays and multi-display collaborative workspaces.

Acknowledgments

Jean Vanderdonckt thanks Thomas Castro, Charlee Jeunehomme, and Laurent Wéry, founders of Slide’n’joy company for allowing him to use their Le Slide (http://www.leslide.com) device in this work. This work is supported by the Nomos project of the Hubert Curien Programme funded by Wallonie-Bruxelles-International (http://www.wbi.be) under Grant No. 454410. Radu-Daniel Vatavu acknowledges support from a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS/CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P3-3.6-H2020-2020-0034 (12/2021).

Notes

1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extensible.

2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extended.

3. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extensible.

4. https://www.lexico.com/definition/extensible.

5. http://www.textileglossary.com/terms/extensibility.html.

6. https://www.lexico.com/definition/extensible.

7. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extendable.

8. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extendable.

9. https://www.lexico.com/definition/extendable.

10. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expandable.

11. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/expandable.

12. https://www.lexico.com/definition/expandable.

13. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extractable.

14. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extract.

15. https://www.lexico.com/definition/extract.

16. The distance between the user and the screen should be at least 3 inches (7.6 cm)-25 inches (63.5 cm) according to the device control perspective (O’Hara et al., 2002). Moreover, displays should not be positioned above 75 from the horizontal line of sight and at a maximum angle of 45, according to (Harrison & Hudson, 2011; O’Hara et al., 2002).

17. Vector graphics available from http://www.pixabay.com.

18. https://www.techeblog.com/samsung-galaxy-smartphone-with-expandable-display/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jean Vanderdonckt

Jean Vanderdonckt is a Full Professor of Computer Science at the Université catholique de Louvain, where he conducts research and development in Human-Computer Interaction, Engineering of Interactive Computing Systems, Intelligent User Interfaces, and Information Systems. He received a PhD in Computer Science from University of Namur. Contact him at [email protected].

Radu-Daniel Vatavu

Radu-Daniel Vatavu is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Suceava, where he directs the Machine Intelligence and Information Visualization Lab. His research interests include gesture interaction, accessible computing, and interactive media. Contact him at [email protected].