Stomp meets email with Microsoft's StepUI

It's only one of over a hundred new technologies being displayed at the annual TechFest, put on by Microsoft Research, but it's intriguing. Essentially it's a Dance Dance Revolution-style interface for doing things on your computer. See some spam? Stomp on it! It uses currently-available dance pads to issue commands to the computer, assigning buttons to do things like scroll, open, or flag an email. Best of all, to get rid of an email, you hit both of your feet on the pad. Sounds like fun, and I agree with the MS folks who presume this might get people a little more active while sitting on their duffs. More importantly, it brings multitasking to a new level, as you'll be able to work with your hands and feet on the computer. Great, does this mean my boss will assume I'll be more productive? I'll at least look cool, flailing about my cubicle.

[Via Microsoft Watch]

Tags: interface, research, stepui