Reduced Instruction Set Calligraphic Interfaces: Sketching Complex 3d Objects with (fewer) Gestures

GIDeS (Gesture-based Intuitive Design System) is a gesture-based modeling system that addresses the known ergonomic shortcomings of present-day CAD systems for conceptual shape design. GIDeS uses a tablet and stylus combination to combine the intuitive appeal of gesture-based interfaces with context-based information to achieve what we call RISCI (pronounced risky Reduced Instruction Set Calligraphic Interfaces). GIDeS draws on previous modeling work, using contextual information and feedback to free users from remembering detailed modeling gestures, allowing them to concentrate on drawing, towards our end goal of bridging the chasm between paper and pencil and CAD interfaces in the early design stage. While our goal of pure non-command interfaces based on drawing remains elusive, we believe that interfaces that harness the power of ambiguous commands to their advantage imply that design environments are far more natural and efficient to use than the current, command-intensive generation of CAD systems.