The GlobeFish and the GlobeMouse: two new six degree of freedom input devices for graphics applications

ABSTRACT

We introduce two new six degree of freedom desktop input devices based on the key concept of combining forceless isotonic rotational input with force-requiring elastic translational input. The GlobeFish consists of a custom three degrees of freedom trackball which is elastically connected to a frame. The trackball is accessible from the top and bottom and can be moved slightly in all spatial directions by using force. The GlobeMouse device works in a similar way. Here the trackball is placed on top of a movable base, which requires to change the grip on the device to switch between rotating the trackball and moving the base.Our devices are manipulated with the fingertips allowing precise interaction with virtual objects. The elastic translation allows uniform input for all three axes and the isotonic trackball provides a natural mapping for rotations. Our user study revealed that the new devices perform significantly better in a docking task in comparison to the SpaceMouse, an integrated six degrees of freedom controller. Subjective data confirmed these results.

REFERENCES

• 1: Ravin Balakrishnan , Thomas Baudel , Gordon Kurtenbach , George Fitzmaurice, The Rockin'Mouse: integral 3D manipulation on a plane, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.311-318, March 22-27, 1997, Atlanta, Georgia, United States [doi>10.1145/258549.258778]
• 2: William Buxton, Lexical and pragmatic considerations of input structures, ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics, v.17 n.1, p.31-37, January 1983 [doi>10.1145/988584.988586]
• 3: William Buxton, A three-state model of graphical input, Proceedings of the IFIP TC13 Third Interational Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, p.449-456, August 27-31, 1990
• 4: Bernd Fröhlich , John Plate, The cubic mouse: a new device for three-dimensional input, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.526-531, April 01-06, 2000, The Hague, The Netherlands [doi>10.1145/332040.332491]
• 5: M. Hachet , P. Guitton, The interaction table: a new input device designed for interaction in immersive large display environments, Proceedings of the workshop on Virtual environments 2002, May 30-31, 2002, Barcelona, Spain
• 6: Martin Hachet , Pascal Guitton , Patrick Reuter, The CAT for efficient 2D and 3D interaction as an alternative to mouse adaptations, Proceedings of the ACM symposium on Virtual reality software and technology, October 01-03, 2003, Osaka, Japan [doi>10.1145/1008653.1008689]
• 7: Ken Hinckley , Joe Tullio , Randy Pausch , Dennis Proffitt , Neal Kassell, Usability analysis of 3D rotation techniques, Proceedings of the 10th annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technology, p.1-10, October 14-17, 1997, Banff, Alberta, Canada [doi>10.1145/263407.263408]
• 8: Huckauf, A., Speed, A., Kunert. A., Hochstrate, J., Fröhlich, B.: Evaluation of 12-DOF Input Devices for Navigation and Manipulation in Virtual Environments. Maria F. Costabile & Fabio Paterno: Human-Computer-Interaction, Interact 2005, 601--615.
• 9: Robert J. K. Jacob , Linda E. Sibert , Daniel C. McFarlane , M. Preston Mullen, Jr., Integrality and separability of input devices, ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), v.1 n.1, p.3-26, March 1994 [doi>10.1145/174630.174631]
• 10: Myung-Soo Kim , Joon-Kyung Seong , Dae-Eun Hyun , Kang-Hoon Lee , Yoo-Jin Choi, A Physical 3D Trackball, Proceedings of the 9th Pacific Conference on Computer Graphics and Applications, p.134, October 16-18, 2001
• 11: Langolf, G., Chaffin, D, and Foulke, J. 1976. An investigation of Fitts' law using a wide range of movement amplitudes. Journal of Motor Behavior, 8(2), 113--128.
• 12: Masliah, M. 2001. Measuring the allocation of control in 6 degree of freedom human-computer interaction tasks, PhD thesis, University of Toronto.
• 13: Maurice R. Masliah , Paul Milgram, Measuring the allocation of control in a 6 degree-of-freedom docking experiment, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.25-32, April 01-06, 2000, The Hague, The Netherlands [doi>10.1145/332040.332403]
• 14: Ivan Poupyrev , Suzanne Weghorst , Sidney Fels, Non-isomorphic 3D rotational techniques, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.540-547, April 01-06, 2000, The Hague, The Netherlands [doi>10.1145/332040.332497]
• 15: Tomoichi Takahashi , Mikio Kuzuya, 3-D Input Device Using a Ball Rotation Interface, Proceedings of HCI International (the 8th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction) on Human-Computer Interaction: Ergonomics and User Interfaces-Volume I, p.397-401, August 22-26, 1999
• 16: C. Ware, Using hand position for virtual object placement, The Visual Computer: International Journal of Computer Graphics, v.6 n.5, p.245-253, 1990 [doi>10.1007/BF01900747]
• 17: Zhai, S. 1995. Human Performance in Six Degree of Freedom Input Control, PhD thesis, University of Toronto.
• 18: Shumin Zhai , Paul Milgram, Quantifying coordination in multiple DOF movement and its application to evaluating 6 DOF input devices, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.320-327, April 18-23, 1998, Los Angeles, California, United States [doi>10.1145/274644.274689]
• 19: Zhai, S., Senders, J.W. 1997, Investigating Coordination in Multidegree of Freedom Control I: Time-on-Target Analysis of 6 DOF Tracking, Proc. Human Factor Ergonomics Society 1997, 1249--1253.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)

Keywords:
human factors, input devices, interaction techniques, user interface hardware