Spherical Objects as an Opportunity to Investigate Physical Embodiment in Mixed Reality Environments

Abstract

In this work, we introduce our approach of using current VR and AR technology to explore fully tangible spherical user interfaces.We present three prototypes utilizing this technique. We briefly outline possible challenges, advantages, and fields of application for the presented concepts. Accordingly, we discuss why VR is an interesting tool to investigate interaction with Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) that are currently not feasible in real world applications such as tangible holographic interfaces or lightweight handheld non-planar displays.This allows for studying various levels of tangible feedback on established use cases such as spherical visualizations. Subsequently, a tangible sphere, due to its natural shape enables an investigation of interaction techniques transferred from the real to the virtual world. Building on these prospects we represent the position that such objects could play a leading role not only in research but in future Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) applications that rely on natural interaction based on realistic physical feedback.