Questioning Naturalism in 3D User Interfaces

Three-dimensional (3D) UIs (user interface) are uniquely able to achieve superior interaction fidelity. Natural 3D UIs must still be designed carefully, especially since no UI can replicate the real-world experience exactly. Studies show that high levels of naturalism can enhance performance and the overall user experience, but moderately natural 3D UIs can be unfamiliar and detrimental to performance. Selection, the task of picking one or more objects from the environment, is a fundamental task in many 3D UIs. The most common technique based on touching is called the 'simple virtual hand, in which the user controls a virtual hand directly with real hand movements, and causes the virtual hand to touch a virtual object in order to select it. Techniques based on pointing can be used from a distance, while still being considered natural. 3D UIs of this sort can make performing tasks in the virtual world easier than in the real world.