Design Challenge:
Real Tools for Virtual Objects is an ongoing research project at Touch Interactive. The objective of the project is to develop research knowledge in the area of creative computer use with the overall aim to develop new, exciting, and more effective interactive solutions for designers working with computers for 3D design and development. The project aims to develop new tangible solutions to human-computer interaction focusing on the physical and social human interface as the absolute target for design development.
Design Solution:
At this stage the project has developed input devices for generating 3D virtual concepts. This has come about from the extensive design research developed for this project from challenging contemporary computer related design and modelling solutions to traditional creative processes and physical modelling techniques.
Using the product designer's desk as a metaphor the new computer concept is designed to fit comfortably as part of the 'concept development environment'. The table has an A3 paper like surface on it for natural sketching. This surface is the 'monitor' which uses touchscreen technology so that the sketches and virtual models can be controlled using both hands and the tools which 'sit around' the table. Ironically, the tools act as paper weights too. The objective of the system is not to replace paper. Rather, it is designed to take advantage of both the tangible and virtual world.
Each tool has a metaphor which represents its task. They also have affordances to guide the user to perform their specific tasks. The system has seperate software windows customised for each tool. These 'windows' are initialised when the tangible tools are brought towards the working surface. The software 'options', which are available for each task, can be controlled with the user's fingers. This simplifies the software interfaces so that the working focus can lie on each particlular task, the tools needed to perform these tasks and the creative result.
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