CubeExplorer: An Evaluation of Interaction Techniques in Architectural Education

During the early stages of architectural training, tangibility plays an important role in developing spatial awareness. In such contexts, tangible user interfaces are believed to provide a significant advantage as they combine the affordances of both the physical and the digital world. We introduce CubeExplorer, a hybrid 3D conceptual aid that combines physical interaction and digital modeling in an effort to complement conventional architectural space-training tools (such as physical materials and digital CAD programs). Using a digital pen as an input mechanism, CubeExplorer lets users perform subtractive 3D geometric operations on a simple paper based cube model while observing the resulting model on a display. The tangibility of the model simplifies navigation and command execution, while the digital interface makes it easy for users to explore multiple alternative designs. To evaluate the potential of such an approach, we conducted a user study in a normal classroom environment whe...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: INTERACT
• Authors: Hyunyoung Song, François Guimbretière, Michael A. Ambrose, Carl Lostritto
• Keywords: Digital, Digital Cad Programs, Human Computer Interaction, INTERACT 2007, Tangible User Interfaces