from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Tangible User Interface
<interface> An attempt to give physical form to digital
information, making bits directly manipulable and perceptible
by people. Tangible Interfaces will make bits accessible
through augmented physical surfaces (e.g. walls, desktops,
ceilings, windows), graspable objects (e.g. building blocks,
models, instruments) and ambient media (e.g. light, sound,
airflow, water-flow, kinetic sculpture) within physical
environments.
MIT Tangible Media Group (http://tangible.media.mit.edu/).
(2003-10-17)