Development of communication support system at mealtimes using tabletop interface

Abstract

In this research, we aim to develop a system to support communication during meal times. It is reported that the communication skills of young people have declined because of decrease of opportunity to speak face to face. We focus on the meal that is essential for everyday life as a place for face-to-face communication. The proposed system uses tabletop interface as a dining table to provide intuitive control without additional burden. Users can decorate the table and dishes with several digital items by only touching the surface of the table. Furthermore the system displays various visual events randomly on the table according to the condition of the items. By using visual effects, we realize the support to provide improving communication and enhancing the enjoyment of the meal. From the result of experiment, it was cleared that users could take a cue of conversation through use of the system. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.