Phidgets: Incorporating Physical Devices into the Interface

Physical widgets, or phidgets, comprise devices and software that are almost direct analogs of graphical user interface widgets. Like widgets, phidgets abstract and package input and output devices: they hide implementation and construction details while exposing functionality through a well-defined API. They also have an (optional) on-screen interface. Phidgets also require: a connection manager to track how devices appear on-line; a way to link a software phidget with its physical counterpart; and a simulation mode to allow the programmer to develop, debug and test a system using phidgets even when no physical device is present.