Multiscreen Patterns – Interactions Across the Borders of Devices

Abstract: Design patterns are solutions for common design problems used in a number of fields including architecture, software development and user experience design. We compiled a pattern library for the usage of gesture-enabled interactions between different devices with screens, the so called multiscreen context. This library provides simple and intuitive gestures for connecting and disconnecting devices wirelessly as well as gestures for the exchange of data between these devices, like swiping a document from one’s tablet to the tablets of the surrounding colleagues in the same room. The library is the result of a 2.5 years running project in cooperation with three small and medium companies. We compiled the library by conducting an intense literature survey in parallel with several iterations of practical software projects in the multiscreen context. The literature survey inspired the practice-oriented project work. Being involved in software projects enabled us to identify challenges in the design and implementation of the gesture set. Therefore, we generated valuable insight for a comprehensive description of gestural interactions. With our set of patterns, we aim to support interaction designers to choose the appropriate gesture for their given context. The patterns serve as inspiration by showing the different possibilities but also provide guidance how to design and implement a selected gesture for a given context. They help designing the details of an interaction by breaking it down into its smallest parts. To support the developers of these interactions our pattern descriptions are enriched with an Android library containing lifecycle events and the necessary gesture recognition logic. This paper provides an overview of the pattern library. In addition, the structure and the usage of the library is described in more detail with the means of one sample pattern. The pattern library is openly accessible.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Multiscreen Patterns – Interactions Across the Borders of Devices ; volume:17 ; number:1 ; year:2018 ; pages:91-98 ; extent:8 ; i-com ; 17, Heft 1 (2018), 91-98 (gesamt 8)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Madden, Dominick ; Schneider, Horst ; Kohler, Kirstin

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/icom-2018-0008
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023032814482265610148
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 11:00 AM CEST