Abstract
Starting from an analysis of the current unsuitability of computers for sketching, three key requirements are identified, in particular the notion that re-drawing or over-drawing are more important than editing and tweaking. These requirements are encapsulated in the broad concept of Transparency, understood both literally and metaphorically. Two experiments in implementing aspects of Transparency are described. One subverts the Macintosh window manager to provide windows with variable transparency, so that tracing between applications becomes a practical possibility. The other implements a graphical interface that requires no on-screen palettes or sliders to control it, allowing uninterrupted concentration on the design in hand. User tests show that the tool can be learnt quickly, is engaging to use, and most importantly, has character.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bier E, Stone M, Pier K, Buxton W, DeRose T, 1993, “Toolglass and Magic Lenses: The See-Through Interface”, Computer Graphics (Proc. SIGGRAPH) August 1993 73–80
Bier E, Stone M, Fishkin K, Buxton W, Baudel T, 1994, “A Taxonomy of See-Through Tools”, Proc. CHI 94, Boston, MA 358–364
Carter K, 1993, “Computer Aided Design: Back to the Drawing Board”, Proc. Creativity and Cognition 93, Loughborough
Colby G, Scholl L, 1991, “Transparency and Blur as Selective Cues for Complex Visual Information”, SPIE Image Handling and Reproduction Systems, vol 1460 114–118
Coyne R, 1995, Designing Information Technology in the Postmodern Age (MIT Press, Cambridge, MA)
Gross, M D, 1994 “The Fat Pencil, the Cocktail Napkin, and the Slide Library”, ACADIA’ 94, Association of Computer Aided Design in Architecture 103–113
Gross, M D, 1996 “The Electronic Cocktail Napkin — a computational environment for working with design diagrams”, Design Studies, 17(1) 53–69
Harrison B, Ishii H, Vicente K, Buxton W, 1995a, “Transparent Layer User Interfaces, An Evaluation of a Display Design to Enhance Focused and Divided Attention”, Proc. CHI 95, Denver, CO 317–324
Harrison B, Kurtenbach G, Vicente K, 1995b, “An Experimental Evaluation of Transparent User Interface Tools and Information Content” Proc. UIST 95, Pittsburgh, PA 81–90
Harrison B, Vicente K, 1996, “An Experimental Evaluation of Transparent Menu Usage”, Proc. CHI 96, Vancouver 391–398
Jansson D, Smith S, 1991, “Design Fixation”, Design Studies, 12(1) 3–11
Kamba T, Elson S, Harpold T, Stamper T, Sukaviriya P, 1996, “Using Small Screen Space more Efficiently”, Proc. CHI 96, Vancouver 383–390
Kramer A, 1994, “Translucent Patches: Dissolving Windows”, Proc. UIST’ 94, Marina del Rey, CA 121–130
Kramer A, 1996, “Dynamic Interpretations in Translucent Patches”, Proc. AVI 96, Gubbio
Kreuger M, 1991, Artificial Reality II (Addison-Wesley)
Lawson B, 1990, How Designers Think. The Design Process Demystified 2nd Ed. (Butterworth Architecture)
Lieberman H, 1994, “Powers of Ten Thousand: Navigating in Large Information Spaces”, Proc. UIST’ 94, Marina del Rey, CA 15–16
Metelli F, 1974, “The Perception of Transparency”, Scientific American, April 1974
Penz F, Bourne M, Wright P, 1992, “Tools for Design: a controlled experiment comparing computer work with traditional hand drawings”, Penz F (Ed.) Computers in Architecture: Tools for design (Longman, London) 3–14
Pérez-Gómez A, 1983 Architecture and the Crisis of Modern Science (MIT Press)
Perlin K, Fox D, 1993, “PAD: An Alternative Approach to the Computer Interface”, Computer Graphics (Proc. SIGGRAPH) Anaheim, August 1993 57–62
Purcell T, Gero J, 1996, “Design and other types of Fixation”, Design Studies, 17(4) 363–383
Rattenbury K, 1995, “In Glorious Technicolour”, Building Design, Jan 27, 1995 12–14
Saund E, Moran, T P, 1994, “A Perceptually-Supported Sketch Editor”, Proc. UIST’ 94, Marina del Rey, CA 175–184
Schofield S, 1994, Non Photorealistic Rendering: A Critical Examination and Proposed System, Doctoral Dissertation, Middlesex University
Schofield S, Richens P, 1995, The Piranesi System, (The Martin Centre, Cambridge, England)
Staples L, 1993, “Representation in Virtual Space”, Proc.INTERCHI 93, Amsterdam 348–354
Vesely D, 1993, “Architecture, Simulation and Reality”, Scroope Five, Cambridge Architecture Journal 5 26–28
Wellner P, 1993, “Interacting with Paper on the DigitalDesk”, Communications of the ACM 36(7) 87–96
Zhai S, Milgram P, Buxton W, 1996, “The Influence of Muscle Groups on Performance of Multiple Degree-of-Freedom Input”, Proc. CHI 96, Vancouver 308–315
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Trinder, M. (1999). The Computer’s Role in Sketch Design: A Transparent Sketching Medium. In: Augenbroe, G., Eastman, C. (eds) Computers in Building. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5047-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5047-1_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7294-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5047-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive