“Feels Like Paper!”: Interfacing AI through Paper

Key Insights

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  Physical paper retains unique tactile qualities that people naturally gravitate toward for reading, writing, and drawing.

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  Augmented reality can augment handwriting math input and provide instant, contextual AI-generated answers projected close to the user’s writing.

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  Mixed reality interfaces enable a tight coupling between physical and virtual objects, making digital content feel part of the physical world with shadow and spatial alignment.

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  AI agents embodied in physical objects scattered in our environment offer localized, context-aware assistance rather than a single all-knowing AI entity.

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  Designing AI interfaces means designing for variable behaviors, as AI outputs are not deterministic and can change with context and prompts.

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  Embodied interfaces can sometimes function without visible augmentation, using physical actions like highlighting combined with speech to synchronize digital data.

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  Real-time image diffusion used as a co-creative muse on physical drawings creates a hierarchical relationship where AI inspires but does not dictate final outcomes.

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  Smart glasses with egocentric cameras offer new opportunities for natural interaction but raise significant privacy concerns that need careful attention.

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  Interaction choreography and microgestures are critical for socially acceptable use of smart glasses in public or professional environments.

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  Future interfaces may allow uninterrupted coexistence of physical and virtual content on a single perceptual layer, enhancing sensory saturation and collaboration.

Notable Quotes