ActiveCube: a bi-directional user interface using cubes

ActiveCube is a bi-directional user interface that supports a person's creative work through constructing and interacting with 3-D virtual objects by using actual physical cubes. With this flexible interface, the user can easily construct various 3-D structures in a virtual environment by simply combining the cubes. All of the faces of the cubes are the same and can be connected to any face of any other cube. A computer recognizes the constructed 3-D structure in real-time, so consistency is always maintained between the real environment and its corresponding representation in a virtual environment. Each cube is equipped with a processor for autonomous simulation and communication functions between cubes. A cube also utilizes a sensor for detecting the operational intention of the user and/or a display/actuator used as an output channel. Users can interact with ActiveCube in various ways by using the sensors, and the response to the interaction is also shown by displays/actuators installed on the cube. Each ActiveCube is equipped with both input and output devices, which makes the interface intuitive and helps to clarify the causal relationship between the input of the user's operational intention and the output of simulated results.