Investigating the Learnability of Immersive Free-Hand Sketching

Abstract

Immersive modeling systems which allow for sketching and constructing three-dimensional product models receive growing interest from both academic research and industry [DBWB*00; FASM02; IWMS09; KAMD*08; KAML*01]. The potential of such systems is estimated in the possibility to create models in a one-to-one scale, to interact with product models and to reduce breaks between analogue and digital media during the development process [DBWB*00; IWMS09]. Despite the growing interest in 3D-sketching techniques, little is known so far about the ability of designers to create free-hand drawings in three-dimensional space. In particular, only few studies have investigated cognitive and sensorimotor processes during immersive sketching yet. This paper contributes to the research on immersive sketching by investigating the learnability of free-hand sketching in an experimental setting. In a study among 25 students, participants repeatedly sketched primitive shapes (circles, squares, balls, and cubes). Sketching performance was operationalized by the time needed to complete a sketch, the quality of the sketch, and the subjective mental workload of the designers. Results suggest a significant enhancement of sketching quality over time, but no change in the time needed to complete a sketch.