Navigating Space by Drawing

摘要

BLUI (Body Language User Interface) is a virtual reality program that allows drawing and sculpting in 3D space using a gestural interface. In this paper, we describe BLUI's use as an interface for annotation, display, and explanation in a variety of scientific visualizations. BLUI can display data from Digital Elevation Models. Three-dimensional forms can be positioned and modified, and general navigation can be performed. New lines, surfaces, and point clouds can be drawn and edited. For visualization playback, a line can be chosen along which a virtual camera will fly. Starting and ending positions on this line can be selected. In addition, a "look at" line with start and end positions can be similarly chosen. A time-scale can then be established for the animation, at which point the user can display the scene from the viewpoint of a virtual camera flying along the first line and looking either straight ahead or at a point moving along the second line.