Minalogic's NOMAD Project Increases Human-Machine Interfaces for Tablets, Smartphones

Minalogic (News - Alert), a company dedicated to micro and nanotechnologies and embedded software, has published the results of its four-year collaborative R&D project, NOMAD (Navigation on Mobile Objects and 3D Access).

The objective of the projects was to provide practical technology solutions that would enable new human-machine interaction techniques for future smartphones, tablets, etc., supporting more complex usages and sophisticated applications.

Under the project, several innovative interaction techniques for mobile devices have been researched and evaluated using MEMS motion sensors and 3D graphics. Additionally, new hardware and software platforms have been created and an open-source community has been formed to further develop the resulting technology. 

Based on technological building blocks from the project, demonstrations were developed following a user-centric approach.

"To remain competitive and consolidate their leadership in this battle of mobility, companies are working on new human-machine interfaces that enrich the use of smartphones and tablets,” said Minalogic CEO Jean Chabbal. “The combination of skills within the NOMAD project allowed the partners to capitalize on their different expertise, to develop innovative technologies and thus remain leaders in their markets.”

The human-machine interfaces developed in the project include an “Interaction” software toolbox that allows the creation of innovative user interfaces with integrated 2D and 3D graphics rendering, to create alternatives to the traditional window, icon, menu and pointing-device interfaces. 

The “Motion” software toolbox uses motion sensors (accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes) for implementing new “in-air” cursor control and gesture-based media content navigation. Hardware and software platform (Linux & Android (News - Alert)) for the development of future smartphones and a development kit, "Snowball," (from the platform) are accompanied by the open- source Web community, Igloo.

Using synergies between large companies, research laboratories and SMEs, NOMAD also contributed to the creation of nationally and internationally recognized local industrial ecosystems.

SMEs participating in the project, such as Calao Systems and Movea, have gained competitive advantages using these technologies in consumer and industrial electronics.