Minput: Enabling Interaction On Small Mobile Devices With High-Precision, Low-Cost, Multipoint Optical Tracking

We present Minput, a sensing and input method that enables intuitive and accurate interaction on very small devices ones too small for practical touch screen use and with limited space to accommodate physical buttons. We achieve this by incorporating two, inexpensive and high-precision optical sensors (like those found in optical mice) into the underside of the device. This allows the entire device to be used as an input mechanism, instead of the screen, avoiding occlusion by fingers. In addition to x/y translation, our system also captures twisting motion, enabling many interesting interaction opportunities typically found in larger and far more complex systems.