Situated modeling

Abstract

Existing 3D sketching methods typically allow the user to draw in empty space which is imprecise and lacks tactile feedback. We introduce a shape-stamping interface where users can model with tangible 3D primitive shapes. Each of these shapes represents a copy or a fragment of the construction material. Instead of modeling in empty space, these shapes allow us to use the real-world environment and other existing objects as a tangible guide during 3D modeling. We call this approach Situated Modeling: users can create new real-sized 3D objects directly in 3D space while using the nearby existing objects as the ultimate reference. We also describe a two-handed shape-stamping technique for stamping with tactile feedback. We show a variety of doit-yourself furniture and household products designed with our system, and perform a user study to compare our method with a related AR-based modeling system.