Using the bat: a six-dimensional mouse for object placement

Existing strategies for 6-D placement (i.e positioning and orienting) are briefly reviewed. An approach is presented that uses a 6-D variant on the conventional mouse, called the `bat', because it is like a mouse that flies. This device encodes relative position, like the mouse, but delivers data in all six dimensions needed for object placement. The goal is to evaluate the bat to determine how well it is suited to placement operations, which are studied in the context of a hierarchically constructed scene. Two distinct parts of the placement operation, visualization and manipulation, are examined and the hardware and software environment designed as a test for the study are described. Manipulation with the bat, which is discussed in some detail, is judged to be successful