LensLeech: On-Lens Interaction for Arbitrary Camera Devices

TL;DR

LensLeech is a soft silicone device that attaches to camera lenses, enabling on-lens interaction through optical gestures, thus expanding camera functionality without altering existing hardware.

Contribution

The paper introduces LensLeech, a novel on-lens interaction device that enables optical gesture detection and control for various camera types, addressing limitations of traditional camera-based interactions.

Findings

Successfully detects rotation, translation, and deformation gestures.

Demonstrates application on wearable, smartphone, and interchangeable-lens cameras.

Extends device capabilities with optical input and output.

Abstract

Cameras provide a vast amount of information at high rates and are part of many specialized or general-purpose devices. This versatility makes them suitable for many interaction scenarios, yet they are constrained by geometry and require objects to keep a minimum distance for focusing. We present the LensLeech, a soft silicone cylinder that can be placed directly on or above lenses. The clear body itself acts as a lens to focus a marker pattern from its surface into the camera it sits on. This allows us to detect rotation, translation, and deformation-based gestures such as pressing or squeezing the soft silicone. We discuss design requirements, describe fabrication processes, and report on the limitations of such on-lens widgets. To demonstrate the versatility of LensLeeches, we built prototypes to show application examples for wearable cameras, smartphones, and interchangeable-lens cameras, extending existing devices by providing both optical input and output for new functionality.