Benefits of the use of natural user interfaces in water simulations
Gennadii Donchyts, Fedor Baart, Arthur van Dam, Bert Jagers · ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) · 2014
The use of natural user interfaces instead of conventional ones has become a reality with the emergence of 3D motion sensing technologies. However, some problems are still unsolved (for example, no haptic or tactile feedback); so this technology requires careful evaluation before the users can benefit from it. We argue that the best benefits can be achieved when these natural user interface technologies are combined with classical computer interaction devices such as mouse and keyboard. In our demonstration, we will show how the LEAP Motion controller can be applied in environmental modeling when combined with the shallow water flow model engine D-Flow Flexible Mesh and a 3D scientific visualization library. We will analyze where the new approach provides benefits compared to the classical computer input devices such as mouse and keyboard. We will also demonstrate a number of visualization and interaction techniques used during manipulation of model input data (bathymetry, roughness, etc.) or during exploration of the results of a running morel.