Recent studies have shown that through a careful combination of multiple sensory channels, so called multisensory binding effects can be achieved that can be beneficial for collision detection and texture recognition feedback. During the design of a new pen-input device called Tactylus, specific focus was put on exploring multisensory effects of audiotactile cues to create a new, but effective way to interact in virtual environments with the purpose to overcome several of the problems noticed in current devices.

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A two-handed 3D styling system for free-form surfaces in a table-like Virtual Environment, the Responsive Workbench (RWB)TM, is described. Intuitive curve and surface deformation tools based on variational modeling and interaction techniques adapted to 3D VR modeling applications are proposed. The user draws curves (cubic B-splines) directly in the Virtual Environment using a stylus as an input device. The curves are connected automatically, such that a curve network develops. A combination of automatic and user-controlled topology extraction modules creates the connectivity information. The underlying surface model is based on B-spline surfaces, or, alternatively, uses multisided patches [20] bounded by closed loops of curve pieces.

Compared to most other virtual environments, the Responsive Workbench/sup TM/ offers a much better integration of the virtual and the real worlds. The Responsive Workbench/sup TM/ is a projection-based virtual environment with one horizontal table-sized projection plane. However interacting with these mixed 3D worlds remains a research challenge. This paper introduces a prop-like device, the virtual palette and describes the virtual remote control panel (VRCP), a two-handed interaction technique, based on the Virtual Palette, for controlling applications.