On desktop computers, good user interface design is now almost universally recognized as a crucial part of the software and hardware development process. Almost every computing-related product touts itself as "easy to use," "intuitive," or "designed with your needs in mind." With the advent of virtual environments, augmented reality, ubiquitous computing, and other "off-the desktop" technologies, 3D user interface design is now becoming a critical area for developers, students, and researchers to understand. The authors are all at the forefront of this field, have presented on the topic at several conferences, and lead the 3D UI mailing list. They provide information on existing software tools; case studies of 3D UIs in real-world applications; implementation tips for common interaction techniques; and principles for choosing appropriate devices for 3d UIs. This is one of the most exciting areas of research in computer science today, yet there have been very few if any books written about it. 3D User Interfaces will be the first compilation of principles, research results, and real-world examples for 3D UIs, and should become the seminal work on the subject.

Here’s what three pioneers in computer graphics and human-computer interaction have to say about this book:

“What a tour de force—everything one would want—comprehensive, encyclopedic, and authoritative.”

—Jim Foley

“At last, a book on this important, emerging area. It will be an indispensable reference for the practitioner, researcher, and student interested in 3D user interfaces.”

—Andy van Dam

“Finally, the book we need to bridge the dream of 3D graphics with the user-centered reality of interface design. A thoughtful and practical guide for researchers and product developers. Thorough review, great examples.”

—Ben Shneiderman

As 3D technology becomes available for a wide range of applications, its successful deployment will require well-designed user interfaces (UIs). Specifically, software and hardware developers will need to understand the interaction principles and techniques peculiar to a 3D environment. This understanding, of course, builds on usability experience with 2D UIs. But it also involves new and unique challenges and opportunities. Discussing all relevant aspects of interaction, enhanced by instructive examples and guidelines, 3D User Interfaces comprises a single source for the latest theory and practice of 3D UIs.

Many people already have seen 3D UIs in computer-aided design, radiation therapy, surgical simulation, data visualization, and virtual-reality entertainment. The next generation of computer games, mobile devices, and desktop applications also will feature 3D interaction. The authors of this book, each at the forefront of research and development in the young and dynamic field of 3D UIs, show how to produce usable 3D applications that deliver on their enormous promise.

Coverage includes:

• The psychology and human factors of various 3D interaction tasks
• Different approaches for evaluating 3D UIs
• Results from empirical studies of 3D interaction techniques
• Principles for choosing appropriate input and output devices for 3D systems
• Details and tips on implementing common 3D interaction techniques
• Guidelines for selecting the most effective interaction techniques for common 3D tasks
• Case studies of 3D UIs in real-world applications

To help you keep pace with this fast-evolving field, the book’s Web site, www.3dui.org, will offer information and links to the latest 3D UI research and applications.

Text discusses all relevant aspects of interaction enhanced by instructive examples and guidelines. Coverage includes the psychology and human factors of various 3D interaction tasks, results from empirical studies of 3D interaction techniques, and principles for choosing appropriate input and output devices. DLC: User interfaces (Computer systems).

Very Comprehensive and Well Organized

If you will entering the world of virtual environments, 3D graphics and worlds, virtual reality and even augmented reality, this book will give you ALL the background information you need. It summarizes everything from software, hardware devices, interaction and everything that deals with the Third dimension.

GOOD TITLE

The book present a very good perspective that how is walking the tecnology of 3DUI, and limits that are growing down versus time.

Wanna know about 3D UI?

If you are interested in knowing 3D UI, you should buy this book. It covers almost every technologies designed or developed in recent years. This book consists of about 13 chapters. In each chapter, it explained the different aspect of 3D UI interfaces following chronological patterns. So, if you want to follow or know technological paradigms, it can be one of useful books you should reference.

Academic overview of the field

I hope nobody takes academic in the negative sense. This is fascinating book that provides an overview of all of the different hardware and software techniques in the 3D user interface world. And it does a very capable job of using a combination of images and text to describe the technologies. It’s academic in two regards; first, it’s written like a paper, and second that it has little in terms of practical implementation.

Frankly I doubt you could go far beyond the academic in an overview of a field that is this broad and this early in it’s development. What this book does do is provide some real incentive to enthusiasts and developers to evaluate and combine these technologies. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is in the field or has an interest in it.

Sweeping survey

A fortnight ago, at the Siggraph 2004 convention in Los Angeles, Addison-Wesley had a booth with many of their graphics books. This book was garnering a fair amount of interest. Now that I’ve had a chance to read it, I can see why.

It is a lucid explanation of how to design three dimensional user interfaces. The authors summarise a vast body of work done in past decades. Plus, unlike perhaps some books that might focus on only US research, they show the global scope of the effort.

Being a text on 3D graphics, you might expect considerable maths. There is indeed some, including a brief description of quarternions. But the amount of maths is deliberately downplayed. Enough is used to impart a basic flavour in certain sections. However, the general tenor of the book is at a higher level of design.

Many serious issues remain unresolved. The book shows you what these are. Very helpful if you are in this field. Especially for newcomers.