Interacting with actuated walls: Exploring applications and input types

Previous literature on small-scale shape displays demonstrated the benefit of shape-changing interfaces and adaptive environments. However, research with large-scale implementations is limited to specific equipment. Thus, there is little understanding of how they can enrich user experience in a larger scope, especially from an interactive perspective. We proposed using pin-array large-scale implementations made of linear actuators matrix as vertical structures to replace static and planar walls and conducted a two-fold exploration to extend the understanding of potential applications and showcase users’ behaviors and preferences to inspire researchers. We summarized 14 potential applications for shape-changing walls, and presented users’ interaction preferences with such a wall of different sizes and interaction distances. We concluded with recommendations and guidelines for practitioners to design large-scale actuated walls. [Display omitted] •Investigated the benefits of shape changing walls in two studies.•Furthered our limited understanding of how to interact with large vertical actuated interfaces.•Proposed five themes of possible shape-changing walls applications.•Users were more likely to use gestures to indicate the shapes and movement when close to walls.•When facing an actuated wall with bigger cubes, users would use their hands more than their fingers.•When the cubes were smaller, users would interact and perform operations more with their fingers.