From bowman@cc.gatech.edu Fri May 1 14:03:20 1998 Received: from burdell.cc.gatech.edu (root@burdell.cc.gatech.edu [130.207.3.207]) by lennon.cc.gatech.edu (8.8.4/8.6.9) with ESMTP id OAA08273 for ; Fri, 1 May 1998 14:03:16 -0400 (EDT) Received: from wheaten.hitl.washington.edu (zX9jTstqH2Ce/JE4ep5xAGVsUNU8hXDU@[128.95.73.60]) by burdell.cc.gatech.edu (8.8.4/8.6.9) with ESMTP id OAA24931 for ; Fri, 1 May 1998 14:03:15 -0400 (EDT) Received: from burdell.cc.gatech.edu (root@burdell.cc.gatech.edu [130.207.3.207]) by wheaten.hitl.washington.edu (8.8.8/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA31310 for <3d-ui@hitl.washington.edu>; Fri, 1 May 1998 11:03:00 -0700 (PDT) Received: from lennon.cc.gatech.edu (bowman@lennon.cc.gatech.edu [130.207.9.20]) by burdell.cc.gatech.edu (8.8.4/8.6.9) with ESMTP id OAA24893 for <3d-ui@hitl.washington.edu>; Fri, 1 May 1998 14:02:59 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from bowman@localhost) by lennon.cc.gatech.edu (8.8.4/8.6.9) id OAA08248 for 3d-ui@hitl.washington.edu; Fri, 1 May 1998 14:02:58 -0400 (EDT) From: bowman@cc.gatech.edu (Doug Bowman) Message-Id: <199805011802.OAA08248@lennon.cc.gatech.edu> Subject: Taxonomy of navigation techniques To: 3d-ui@hitl.washington.edu (3D UI List) Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 14:02:57 -0400 (EDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] Content-Type: text Status: RO Hi everyone, This message is specifically for Matt Conway, but I thought it might interest you all as well. Matt, I read in your mail that you were looking to create a taxonomy of 3d/immersive navigation techniques. I wanted to make sure you knew about the work I've been doing in this area. First of all, we should define our terms. What is your definition of navigation? In my view, navigation is made up of two components: viewpoint motion control (or travel) and wayfinding. VMC (travel) is the motor aspect of navigation - how does one actually move from place to place? Wayfinding is the cognitive aspect - how does one plan a route or decide where to go next? I have been working on travel (but not wayfinding) techniques for some time now. If you haven't seen it, you should read our 1997 VRAIS paper "Travel in Immersive Virtual Environments..." (Bowman, Koller, and Hodges). It, among other things, includes a preliminary taxonomy of travel techniques. You can get this paper, as well as another one outlining a expanded design and evaluation framework, "A Methodology for the Evaluation of Travel Techniques..." on my Web page: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Phd/Doug.Bowman/pubs.html At any rate, we were never completely happy with this original taxonomy, although it was useful in both design and evaluation. I've been working on a new taxonomy that attempts to solve some of the problems of the first one (it was not complete or orthogonal). I thought it would be useful for you to see this before you began working from scratch - that's one of the purposes of this group, not to duplicate effort. Below, I'll just include the main portion of the taxonomy that deals with setting the viewpoint position of the user (the main task involved in travel). -Indication of position --specify position ---discrete target specification (1) select object in environment (see selection taxonomy) select from menu/list enter coordinates position 3d cursor (see manipulation taxonomy) position 2d marker (e.g. on a map) (see manip.) automatic target selection ---one-time route specification (2) techniques for this?? e.g. set series of 3d markers (manip.) e.g. specify radius of curvature, length, other parameters e.g. specify series of targets, do spline between ---continuous specification (specify trajectory/direction) (3) gaze direction hand tracker direction physical props virtual controls 2D pointing --specify velocity ---discrete velocity selection (1) constant velocity select from menu/list enter numeric value voice command virtual controls physical props automatic ---one-time velocity profile specification (2) techniques for this?? e.g. enter series of numbers corresponding to various positions e.g. specify parameters, function of time or position, etc. automatic ---continuous specification(3) gesture (head, hand trackers) physical props virtual controls automatic --specify acceleration ---discrete acceleration selection (1) ---one-time acceleration profile specification (2) ---continuous specification(3) Interpret this as follows: -it's a tree, with the level indicated by the # of dashes -a number in parentheses means that this is a 1 of N choice at that level in that subtree -at certain points I refer to taxonomies for selection and manipulation - those are other taxonomies that I have been working on I hope this is readable - if not I can create a more pictorial version later. Let me know your thoughts on this and how we might be able to work together on some of these issues. Sorry for the long message. Doug -- Doug Bowman, Ph.D. Candidate College of Computing, GVU Center, Georgia Tech Room 388 CRB, (404) 894-5104 bowman@cc.gatech.edu http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/people/Phd/Doug.Bowman/