2016 Volume 33 Issue 2 Pages 2_116-2_124
We propose subtle foot-based gestures named foot plantar-based (FPB) gestures that are used with sock-style pressure sensors. In this system, the user can control a computing device by changing his or her foot plantar distributions, e.g., pressing the floor with his or her toe. Because such foot movement is subtle, it is suitable for use especially in a public space such as a crowded train. In this work, we focus on a user-defined gesture that is designed by the end-users, not developers of this system. We first conduct a guessability study that asks people what is the appropriate gesture for a specific command to control the computing device. Then, we implement a gesture recognizer with a machine learning technique. To avoid unexpected gesture activations, we also collect foot plantar pressure patterns made during daily activities such as walking, as negative training data. Finally, we conclude with several applications to further illustrate the utility of FPB gestures.