Arch-Explore: A natural user interface for immersive architectural walkthroughs

Author

Bruder, Gerd ; Steinicke, Frank ; Hinrichs, Klaus H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Comput. Sci., Univ. of Munster, Munster

fYear

2009

fDate

14-15 March 2009

Firstpage

75

Lastpage

82

Abstract

In this paper we propose the Arch-Explore user interface, which supports natural exploration of architectural 3D models at different scales in a real walking virtual reality (VR) environment such as head-mounted display (HMD) or CAVE setups. We discuss in detail how user movements can be transferred to the virtual world to enable walking through virtual indoor environments. To overcome the limited interaction space in small VR laboratory setups, we have implemented redirected walking techniques to support natural exploration of comparably large-scale virtual models. Furthermore, the concept of virtual portals provides a means to cover long distances intuitively within architectural models. We describe the software and hardware setup and discuss benefits of Arch-Explore.

Keywords

helmet mounted displays; solid modelling; user interfaces; virtual reality; Arch-Explore user interface; CAVE setups; VR laboratory setups; architectural 3D models; architectural models; head-mounted display; immersive architectural walkthroughs; natural exploration; virtual indoor environments; virtual models; virtual portals; virtual reality environment; Computer graphics; Feedback; Haptic interfaces; Hardware; Indoor environments; Laboratories; Legged locomotion; User interfaces; Virtual environment; Virtual reality; 3D user interfaces; architectural walkthroughs; locomotion; passive haptic feedback; redirected walking; virtual environments;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

3D User Interfaces, 2009. 3DUI 2009. IEEE Symposium on

Conference_Location

Lafayette, LA

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-3965-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/3DUI.2009.4811208

Filename

4811208