A framework for 3D interaction techniques

Abstract: This paper presents a software architecture for 3D interaction techniques (ITs) and an object oriented, toolkit-independent framework that implements such architecture. ITs are composed of basic filters connected in a dataflow, where virtual input devices and objects in the scene are sources of information. An execution model defines the general flow of information between filters. This framework has been designed to be extensible: new information types, new input devices, new execution models, or new interaction techniques can easily be added. Application specific code and application specific ITs are seamlessly integrated into this architecture.