Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 12:09:42 -0500 From: "Kevin M Curry" Subject: Re: 2D interfaces in a 3D environment Sender: To: "Jeff Pierce" Cc: "3D UI list" <3d-ui@hitl.washington.edu> Message-id: <3C0125D6.AA0DB739@home.com> MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.77 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Importance: Normal X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Accept-Language: en X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 References: <4.1.20011121134641.00bc8530@ux2.sp.cs.cmu.edu> X-Authentication-warning: torch.hitl.washington.edu: majordom set sender toowner-3dui@hitl.washington.edu using -f X-Priority: 3 (Normal) > In certain situations, yes. > > For example: > > - I know the name of the model I want. Why should I even have to use > a dialog box? I should be able to use voice input to ask the system > to "load the model of the rocket ship". True. But, my practical experience with voice activate input (VAI?) was that it was not very practical. This was a couple of years ago so it may be better. In general, it was not flexible enough to support random users - each user had to spend a significant amount of time training the system to recognize all of the commands in his or her voice. Even after training, commands often had to be repeated many times. > - I don't know the name of the model, but I know what it looks like. > The problem with 2D dialog boxes is that they typically show the names > of objects, not what they look like. So I might have to load and then > delete several models with similar names before I find the one I > want. A 3D panel could have the actual models (or simplified versions > of them) displayed on it, and the user could reach in and pull out the > one he wanted (the system would create a copy for him on the fly) and > start using it. I don't agree with this line of reasoning. First, a 3D panel that shows a simplified version of a model only requires that the viewport be 3D. Beyond that, you still have a whole slew of user requirements to meet. Your way suggests previewing only one model at a time. That in itself is not practical, but how would you cycle through the models? How do you make the "OK" or "Cancel" decision? (I guess the words "OK" and "Cancel" are good candidates for a VAI) In any case, I'll add that 3D model previewing can be taxing on the renderer and can slow down the entire dialog. I might want to pull up a "Favorites" tab panel that shows a dozen models per panel. 2D thumbnail icons can be used in this case and are usually sufficient to reveal you that for which you are looking. (Think about how you choose a model on 3DCafe.com - name and thumbnail.) > > > I'm not disagreeing with your overarching point, though. There are > situations where interaction is easier with a 2D interface in 3D. But > there ar