Hughes/Computer Graphics, 3/E

Chapter 21. Interaction Techniques

21.1. Introduction

While human-computer interaction is a field in itself, certain interaction techniques use a substantial amount of the mathematics of transformations, and therefore are more suitable for a book like ours than one that concentrates on the design of the interaction and the human factors associated with that design. We illustrate these ideas with a multitouch interface for 2D manipulation, and three 3D manipulators: the arcball, trackball, and Unicam. In each case we discuss the mathematics, but also the design choices made in creating the interaction technique.

We begin with a discussion of some basic ideas in interaction that everyone in graphics should know. Section 21.3 discusses an implementation ...