Commented On: 1, 2, 3
Link to Video: http://vimeo.com/1669862?pg=embed&sec=1669862
The UIST paper I read was about an application called ILoveSketch. It is used to draw 3D images in a way that mimics pencil and paper drawing. There are many applications that do this, but ILoveSketch introduces a lot of functionality aimed at making the application more like a sketch pad. The first thing is that it mimics ink drying. Many times when sketching, artists will draw a few lines or curves very lightly, and once they draw a curve they like, they will make it darker, and then erase the other curves. ILoveSketch mimics this by drawing light colored curves that change color as they simulated drying. This means that an artist can draw a curve multiple times until they like the shape, and then the preliminary curves will be erased, and the wanted curve will stay as a "dryed" curve. The next feature is for combining curves. Usually, if an artist draws two cruves that are touching, they are meaning for them to be one combined curve. So a 'c' shape on top of a backwards 'c' shape should be combined into an 's' shape. ILoveSketch automatically handles this. Occasionally, this isn't wanted, so it allows the user to undo it by a motion of the pen. The last main feature is the automatic paper rotation. They realized that certain curves are easier to draw when the paper is rotated a different way, due to hand position and movement. To decide if a user is in an uncomfortable position, they measure a pause between the first stroke of a multi-stroke curve as a sign that the user is having trouble drawing the curve, so an automatic rotation is applied. This seems like a great idea, but whenever you automate, you are taking a chance that you will annoy the user. Later on in the article, when they bring in someone to test their product, he does find the automatic rotation to be annoying, since he likes to pause occasionally to look at his sketch.
Overall, I liked the article. It mentioned a number of useful features for making the interface much more intuitive than existing applications. I especially liked that they based their features off of natural mappings. Pen and paper drawing is used by almost everyone throughout their entire life. By appealing to something almost everyone knows, they can greatly increase their usability. The ink drawing and curve connection appeared to do this incredibly well, while the automatic rotation does a bad job by assuming what the user wants, and then forcing itself upon them. The main points from this article that everyone can take, is that automation must be used very carefully, and that natural mappings are the most intuitive form of control.
Link to Video: http://vimeo.com/1669862?pg=embed&sec=1669862
The UIST paper I read was about an application called ILoveSketch. It is used to draw 3D images in a way that mimics pencil and paper drawing. There are many applications that do this, but ILoveSketch introduces a lot of functionality aimed at making the application more like a sketch pad. The first thing is that it mimics ink drying. Many times when sketching, artists will draw a few lines or curves very lightly, and once they draw a curve they like, they will make it darker, and then erase the other curves. ILoveSketch mimics this by drawing light colored curves that change color as they simulated drying. This means that an artist can draw a curve multiple times until they like the shape, and then the preliminary curves will be erased, and the wanted curve will stay as a "dryed" curve. The next feature is for combining curves. Usually, if an artist draws two cruves that are touching, they are meaning for them to be one combined curve. So a 'c' shape on top of a backwards 'c' shape should be combined into an 's' shape. ILoveSketch automatically handles this. Occasionally, this isn't wanted, so it allows the user to undo it by a motion of the pen. The last main feature is the automatic paper rotation. They realized that certain curves are easier to draw when the paper is rotated a different way, due to hand position and movement. To decide if a user is in an uncomfortable position, they measure a pause between the first stroke of a multi-stroke curve as a sign that the user is having trouble drawing the curve, so an automatic rotation is applied. This seems like a great idea, but whenever you automate, you are taking a chance that you will annoy the user. Later on in the article, when they bring in someone to test their product, he does find the automatic rotation to be annoying, since he likes to pause occasionally to look at his sketch.
Overall, I liked the article. It mentioned a number of useful features for making the interface much more intuitive than existing applications. I especially liked that they based their features off of natural mappings. Pen and paper drawing is used by almost everyone throughout their entire life. By appealing to something almost everyone knows, they can greatly increase their usability. The ink drawing and curve connection appeared to do this incredibly well, while the automatic rotation does a bad job by assuming what the user wants, and then forcing itself upon them. The main points from this article that everyone can take, is that automation must be used very carefully, and that natural mappings are the most intuitive form of control.
I thought that this paper was one of the coolest that was presented. The sketch of the jet was especially intriguing. I am not much of an artist but i still see the potential to improve tablet PC drawing capabilities.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time understanding how to navigate the 3D space with a pen, but it was very cool looking nonetheless. Good find on this paper.
ReplyDelete