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Abstract : |
Computer graphics hardware supporting real-time interac-tive 3D animation has the potential to support effective user interfaces by enabling virtual 3D workspaces. However, this potential requires development of viewpoint movement tech-niques that support rapid and controlled movement through workspaces. Rapid movement through large distances avoids wasted work time; controlled movement near target objects allows the user to examine and interact with objects in the workspace. Current techniques for viewpoint movement typ-icaUy use high velocities to cover distances rapidly, but high velocities are hard to control near objects. This paper de-scribes a new technique for targeted viewpoint movement that solves this problem. The key idea is to have the user indicate a point of interest (target) on a 3D object and use the distance to this target to move the viewpoint logarithlni-cally, by moving the same relative percentage of distance to the target on every animation cycle. The result is rapid mo-tion over distances that slows as the viewpoint approaches the target object. The technique can be used with 2D and multidimensional input devices. We also extend the tech-nique to move objects in the workspace., |
