Figure 1. Touchbugs on a multi-touch table. Touchbugs: Actuated Tangibles on Multi-Touch Tables

We present a novel approach to graspable interfaces using Touchbugs, actuated physical objects for interacting with interactive surface computing applications. Touchbugs are active tangibles that are able to move across surfaces by employing vibrating motors and can communicate with camera-based multi-touch surfaces using infrared LEDs. Touchbug’s embedded inertial sensors and computational capabilities open a new interaction space by providing autonomous capabilities for tangibles that allow goal directed behavior. Author Keywords User interface device; actuated tangibles; interactive tabletops