Many input techniques for three-dimensional modeling have been studied, but have failed to provide simple menu selection. Furthermore, virtual space has no support for a command history. To address these issues, we propose Property Glove for applying a set of properties of three-dimensional objects and managing command histories using the positional relationship between Property Gloves and their users.
Keywords: Augmented reality, bimanual interface, command history, three-dimensional modeling
Designers in the fields of industrial design and fine arts often create an initial design in computer graphics using three-dimensional (3D) modeling tools. However, most user interfaces for these tools are designed for expert users: novice users must learn complicated command operations. Interfaces to alleviate such complexity have been studied, but they have not succeeded completely in simplifying menu selection in 3D modeling tools. This paper presents a history management technique - Property Glove - in which a glove metaphor is used to deal with the issue of menu selections in 3D modeling tools.
Figure 1 shows a typical user environment for our research. The user wears a transparent head-mounted display and Immersion's CyberGloves. Using this equipment, he performs 3D modeling in a virtual space. The user first sets properties to his left Property Glove, appearing as a translucent glove in the environment, to draw a 3D model and assign properties to that model. After assigning properties to the Property Glove, the user draws a 3D shape, which has identical properties to the Property Glove.
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Figure 1: User's environment for Property Glove
In the following example, the user assigns a sphere value to a 3D shape, red to color, and stripe to texture. He selects those properties using the hand menu, drawing a 3D shape using his both hands, and applying properties using the Property Gloves.
For Property Glove menu selection, we use a technique proposed by Bowman and Wingrave [1]. In this technique, a user opens a hand menu on the left palm and selects a menu item using the right index finger (Fig. 2(a)). Menu items are displayed on the fingers of the user¡Çs left hand: ¡ÈShape¡É for the index finger, ¡ÈColor¡É for the middle finger, and ¡ÈTexture¡É for the ring finger. When the user touches the index finger showing the ¡ÈColor¡É item, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the displayed items disappear and the submenu items for ¡ÈColor¡É are displayed on the left palm: ¡ÈBlack¡É is represented by the thumb; ¡ÈRed¡É - the index finger; ¡ÈBlue¡É - the middle finger; ¡ÈGreen¡É - the ring finger; and ¡ÈYellow¡É - the little finger. If the user then touches the index finger with the ¡ÈRed¡É item, he would notice that the color of the left Property Glove is changed to red and the menu items disappear. Similarly, the user would assign properties such as shape and texture to the Property Glove.
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Figure 2: Hand menu selection and bimanual drawing
Once the user has assigned properties to the Property Glove, he draws a 3D model. The user first makes a fist with the right hand near the left palm. Then, a small, red striped sphere appears. This 3D object has identical properties to those assigned to the Property Glove. Figure 2(b) shows the way in which the user can make a hand motion to adjust the sphere size.
The Property Glove enables users to manage the command history performed in the virtual space. Making a grasping gesture with the right palm, the user can peel off the Property Glove with the properties assigned. Figure 3 illustrates this action. The Property Glove follows the user¡Çs right fist, allowing the user to place it in virtual space. Figure 1 shows a command history maintained by the user in the virtual space. Two Property Gloves are at the top of the figure (over the user); one Property Glove is at the right (behind the user).
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Figure 3: Peeling off the Property Glove
When the user peels off the Property Glove, a new Property Glove appears on the left palm. This Property Glove has no properties set. At this moment, the user can take either of the following actions:
Figure 4 shows the user applying a set of properties to the existing sphere object by touching it with the Property Glove. The Property Glove had been assigned a set of properties and kept by the user in the virtual space.
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Figure 4: Applying a set of properties by touching
The Property Glove offers the potential benefit of managing the command history. A user can place the Property Gloves with assigned properties around the body in three-dimensional virtual space. Doing so may decrease users¡Ç cognitive memory load.
THRED is a design support system that can be operated with both hands [2]. THRED implements a dial-type menu in a 3D space. It enables a user to select a menu item using both hands. However, if the user tries to apply the same steps of menu selections twice, the user must repeat the same steps one by one. In contrast, the Property Glove user need not repeat numerous menu selection steps. It allows users to choose a target glove with the desired properties directly. This benefit represents the goal of menu selection.
This paper proposed the Property Glove, which is a history management technique to set and record sets of properties of a three-dimensional model. Property Glove enables users to save many steps to search for a command from a menu hierarchy in virtual space.
We have already implemented the bimanual drawing function for 3D modeling for Property Glove. We have also implemented the hand menu selection function. We intend to examine the maximum number of menu items for a hand menu and to conduct an evaluation on the utility of the Property Glove.
REFERENCES| [1] | Bowman, D.A. and Wingrave, C.A. Design and Evaluation of Menu Systems for Immersive Virtual Environments. In IEEE Virtual Reality 2001, Yokohama, Japan, March 2001, pp 149-156. |
| [2] | Shaw, C.D. and Green, M. THRED: A Two-Handed Design System. ACM Multimedia Systems, Vol. 5, March 1997, pp 126-139. |