Toolspaces and glances: storing, accessing, and retrieving objects in 3D desktop applications

Users of 3D desktop applications perform tasks that require accessing data storage, moving objects, and navigation. These operations are typically performed using 2D GUI elements or 3D widgets. We wish to focus on interaction with 3D widgets directly in the 3D world, rather than forcing our users to repeatedly switch contexts between 2D and 3D. However, the use of 3D widgets requires a mechanism for storing, accessing, and retrieving these widgets. In this paper we present foolspuces and glances to provide this capability for 3D widgets and other objects in interactive 3D worlds. Toolspaces are storage spaces attached to the user’s virtual body; objects placed in these spaces are always accessible yet out of the user’s view until needed. Users access these toolspaces to store and retrieve objects through a type of lightweight and ephemeral navigation we call glances. CR Categories and Subject Descriptors: I.3.6 [Computer Graphics] Methodology and Techniques - Interaction Technique...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: SI3D
• Authors: Jeffrey S. Pierce, Matthew Conway, Maarten van Dantzich, George G. Robertson
• Keywords: 3d Worlds, Applications Perform Tasks, Computer Graphics, Interactive 3D Worlds, SI3D 1999