Tablet computers aim to bridge the gap between portability and productivity, reducing the need for users to carry multiple devices. However, despite increases in resolution, their displays are limited in size. This commonly results in sequential rather than parallel options for screen navigation, a significant drawback when multitasking. In this paper, we present DisplayCover, a tablet cover that integrates a physical keyboard as well as a touch and stylus sensitive thin-film e-ink display. We developed example applications to demonstrate the ability to dynamically alter the cover display content based on usage context, as well as concurrent access to multiple applications, stylus annotation, gestures and trackpad interactions.

There are currently no solutions for enabling direct face-to-face interaction between virtual reality (VR) users wearing head-mounted displays (HMDs). The main challenge is that the headset obstructs a significant portion of a user's face, preventing effective facial capture with traditional techniques. To advance virtual reality as a next-generation communication platform, we develop a novel HMD that enables 3D facial performance-driven animation in real-time. Our wearable system uses ultra-thin flexible electronic materials that are mounted on the foam liner of the headset to measure surface strain signals corresponding to upper face expressions. These strain signals are combined with a head-mounted RGB-D camera to enhance the tracking in the mouth region and to account for inaccurate HMD placement. To map the input signals to a 3D face model, we perform a single-instance offline training session for each person. For reusable and accurate online operation, we propose a short calibration step to readjust the Gaussian mixture distribution of the mapping before each use. The resulting animations are visually on par with cutting-edge depth sensor-driven facial performance capture systems and hence, are suitable for social interactions in virtual worlds.