Investigating user preferences in utilizing a 2D paper or 3D sketch based interface for creating 3D virtual models

Computer modelling of 2D drawings is becoming increasingly popular in modern design as can be witnessed in the shift of modern computer modelling applications from software requiring specialised training to ones targeted for the general consumer market. Despite this, traditional sketching is still prevalent in design, particularly so in the early design stages. Thus, research trends in computer-aided modelling focus on the the development of sketch based interfaces that are as natural as possible. In this report, we present a hybrid sketch based interface which allows the user to make draw sketches using offline as well as online sketching modalities, displaying the 3D models in an immersive setup, thus linking the object interaction possible through immersive modelling to the flexibility allowed by paper-based sketching. The interface was evaluated in a user study which shows that such a hybrid system can be considered as having pragmatic and hedonic value.peer-reviewe

Sketching maps. Comparison between digital diagrammatic sketches of urban connectivity and actual maps of landscape fabric

Digital Participatory Platforms (DPPs) are tools allowing general members of the public to express themselves through design actions. This field is rapidly expanding and has the potential to democratize SS theory, making it visible and relevant to many. Tools that allow participants to develop simple diagrams of urban form can be of help since these types of drawings are easy to make and relate directly to some of the abstractions behind SS theory. However, even if we general members of the public can develop these drawings, the relation between these types of drawings and the reality they may intend to represent has not been mapped sp far. To address this issue we propose an experiment where we compare 200 drawings produced by professionals as part of a participatory process with real scale maps of London parks. We develop an analytic method for the lines of these two datasets using geometric feature extraction and dimensionality reduction representation in a t-SNE scatter graph. Results indicate that, for some types of landscapes, the algorithm effectively matches sketches and map morphologies. In other cases, the geometries of sketches and maps of some landscapes are inherently different since designers tend to develop “cartoons” of their designs, forcing curvature of items or forgetting small details which end up being added into the design in later stages. This would suggest the need to develop sophisticated layers of detail in addition to digital tools if they are to adequately translate between a syntactic approach to design and real-life map results

Sketching maps Comparison between digital diagrammatic sketches of urban connectivity and actual maps of landscape fabric

Digital Participatory Platforms (DPPs) are tools allowing general members of the public to express themselves through design actions. This field is rapidly expanding and has the potential to democratize SS theory, making it visible and relevant to many. Tools that allow participants to develop simple diagrams of urban form can be of help since these types of drawings are easy to make and relate directly to some of the abstractions behind SS theory. However, even if we general members of the public can develop these drawings, the relation between these types of drawings and the reality they may intend to represent has not been mapped sp far. To address this issue we propose an experiment where we compare 200 drawings produced by professionals as part of a participatory process with real scale maps of London parks. We develop an analytic method for the lines of these two datasets using geometric feature extraction and dimensionality reduction representation in a t-SNE scatter graph. Results indicate that, for some types of landscapes, the algorithm effectively matches sketches and map morphologies. In other cases, the geometries of sketches and maps of some landscapes are inherently different since designers tend to develop “cartoons” of their designs, forcing curvature of items or forgetting small details which end up being added into the design in later stages. This would suggest the need to develop sophisticated layers of detail in addition to digital tools if they are to adequately translate between a syntactic approach to design and real-life map results