Sketching in 3D : towards a fluid space for mind and body

This thesis explores a new type of computer-aided sketching tool for 3-dimensional designs. Sketching, as a process, has been used as an effective way to explore and develop ideas in the design process. However, when designers deal with volumetric designs in 3-dimensional space, current sketching means, including traditional free-hand sketching and contemporary computer-aided design (CAD) modeling have limitations such as dimensional inconsistency, and non-intuitive interactions. By observing the roles of sketching in the design process and reviewing the history of design tools, this thesis investigates and proposes new digital methods of 3-dimensional sketching that take advantage of motion detecting and computer-vision technology that is widely available today. In this thesis, two prototype tools were developed and compared. The first prototype uses a motion detecting sensor, projection screen, and gesture tracking software. The movement of the user's hands becomes the intuitive interface to shape 3-dimensional objects in the virtual space. The second prototype, developed in collaboration with Nagakura, uses a hand-held tablet computer with marker-based augmented reality technique. The hand-held device displays the virtual object from desired angles and works as a virtual tool like a chisel, plane, drill, and glue gun to shape virtual objects in 3-dimensional space. Testing these two prototypes for use, and comparing the resulting objects and user responses revealed the strengths and weaknesses of these different 3-dimensional sketching environments. The proposed systems provide a possible foundation for novel computer-aided sketching application that takes advantages of both the physical and virtual worlds.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sung, Woongki

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Takehiko Nagakura.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82285

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/82285