Spatial concepts can be used for information organizing and browsing with connecting the conceptual information world to the physical world. People have been using spaces and areas to organize information since ancient Greek times, as we can see in the method of loci and Mateo Ricci’s memory palace. Also, people have spatial metaphors some of which are common to many people. Using these two features of spatial concepts, we can use a physical space as an information space to browse.
Users can organize their information or topics into the space and browse the information by walking through the space. For example, news can be accessed in a living-room while weather forecasts can be provided near a window. In addition, these information spaces could be bi-directional to serve as hubs where information is exchanged.
This method has another advantage. Usually, a job is done in the related place, which has relevant information. Thus, when users try to do a job, appropriate information will be provided to users when and where the users need the information. For example, when cooking, recipes can be provided by the kitchen area.

Jane comes to the Media Lab. The first place she visits is the first-level lobby. In the lobby, there are announcements and information about big demos or important schedules. She finds that her information area browser (IAB) iss vibrating which means that there is information in her current place. She picks up the information from the space, and the IAB shows her that there will be a final-term project presentatino for MAS 961 today in Responsive Environment group Area, and everybody will be welcomed to see the presentations.
She goes to the kitchen to start the day with a cup of coffee. However, she finds that there is no milk in the espreso machine. She tries to re-fill the milk in the machine, but she fails. She posts her message "how can I refill the milk?" to the kitchen area with her IAB. She goes to a couch in the pond, and takes a rest. In the couch, someone posted a data about a new robot. Jane's IAB tells that there is a new post here in the pond, and Jane picked up the information.
Mark goes to the kitchen and finds the message Jane posted. He posts his reply about how to refill the milk with his IAB.

PPT SLIDES DOWNLOAD (you need MS powerpoint 2003 or more recent version)

The information area browser is implemented with a glove and a sensor network of plugs.
The glove provides user interfaces and the sensor network provide location sensing system.

The glove with a lug (a small circuit board with a microcontroller and an RF chip).


The glove with a battery pack.


The glove with finger-gesture sensors.

The lug is installed on the glove to process the sensor data, to communicate with other lugs and plugs, and to display information.

One dedicated master plug is programmed for information storing and processing. Other plugs are programmed for Daniel's location system.

Thank you very much Josh for all of your helps in the firmware and debugging! =)