A 3D widget library for virtual environments

This paper presents the initial design, development and use of a widget library for virtual environments. The main aims were to provide cross system support by providing a consistent interface from the desktop VR platform to a workbench or CAVE and also to provide cross dimensional support allowing tasks to be completed via 2D and 3D styles of interaction. The widget set developed currently supports a range of operations from navigation, selection and manipulation, system control techniques and interface management. Within this paper, the functionality and operation of the widget set will be reviewed, and its use in two case studies: a constraint based design environment and a deformable modelling environment, will be discussed.