Bringing combined interaction to a problem solving environment for vascular reconstruction

The paper addresses the problem of how to make a human–computer interaction user-friendlier within a problem solving environment (PSE). Pre-operative planning of a vascular reconstruction procedure is a case study for this research. The Virtual Radiology Explorer (VRE) presented in the paper has being deployed for the virtual reality (VR) and desktop projection modalities. Both projection modalities have been compared in respect to the interaction capabilities provided to the potential users of the VRE. The heuristic usability evaluation of the VRE as well as the first results of user profiling show that the combination of VR and desktop within the same interaction–visualisation medium could help to satisfy the wider range of the VRE users. A Personal Space Station (PSS) is a possible solution for the implementation of this concept. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.