View control interface for 3D tele-immersive environments

The 3D tele-immersive (3DTI) environments are emerging as the next generation technique for telecommunication. In this paper, we present a novel and generic interface for view control in 3D environments. The interface uses Wii Remote, a wireless controller for a video game console. It allows the user to manipulate the virtual camera and 3D objects intuitively with buttons and through motions (pitch and roll). We conducted user studies to evaluate the interface with a professional dancer and average audiences. The results demonstrate that the Wii Remote interface is much better suited to view control in 3DTI environments since it is much easier to use, more effective, and more accurate than the conventional mouse-based interfaces.