Why a Demonstration?

We intend to demonstrate the highly intuitive direct-manipulation environment that makes up the interface to Interstacks.  Further, our demonstration will consist of plugging together a diverse set of Interstacks modules and showing the audience how to use this development environment to "script" complex sets of behaviors among a diverse set of external devices found in the average home.  Our realistic demonstration will include the integration of home security, home theatre, and telephone using Interstacks as the hardware "glue" among different technologies.

Relevance to the HCI Community

The work began with the question, How could the notions of component architectures and end-user scripting be reinterpreted in the domain of hardware devices?  Just as HyperCard lets power users (those with conceptual knowledge, but a lack of detailed technical skills) string together components without having to worry about type coercion and hash tables, users of Interstacks can string together bits of specialized hardware without having to worry about such things as fan outs and despiking capacitors.

In summary, Interstacks is a powerful and novel way to interconnect and automate the proliferating number of electronic devices with embedded microprocessors. It gives both systems integrators and consumers an intuitive, easy way to assemble unique devices to meet specific needs.

Commercial Status of the Technology

Presenter

Equipment