Human Centered Multimodal 3D User Interface for Desktop VR Assembly

Vikram S. Vyawahare
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Virtual Reality Applications Center
Iowa State University
Ames , Iowa 50011-2160

Judy M. Vance
Ph.D.
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Virtual Reality Applications Center
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-2160

Vyawahare, Vikram S., Vance, Judy M., “Human Centered Multimodal 3D User Interface for Desktop VR Assembly,” Proceedings of the Emerging Technologies Conference (ETC) 2009, April 2-3, 2009, Ames, IA, ETC-2009-0031.

Abstract
This paper discusses the development of a unique multimodal interface configuration for desktop based virtual assembly wherein the human body is considered to be an integral part of the system characteristics. Here we attempt to combine the benefits of two of the most widely used 3D interaction devices for use in virtual assembly. The resulting bimanual system consists of a data glove with magnetic tracker on the left hand which gives the user a natural interface for macro motions and a haptic device at the right hand to provide force feedback when complex CAD data sets are in close proximity to each other. An optimized tradeoff between the workspace dimensions and mode of feedback with cost effectiveness is achieved.

Keywords: Virtual Reality, Haptic Feedback, Bimanual, Multimodal User Interface, Human Anthropometry