Handling 3D Models Easily : Hardware Focus on 3D Mice
CADplace visited with 3Dconnexion at the Autodesk Digital Prototyping Forum where we talked about their 3D mice and the launch of their new product.
Anyone working daily with 3D models knows that there are certain sticking points in productivity. Certainly a good representation of the 3D model on a 2D display is important. But ease of interaction with the model also depends on the paradigm for manipulation of the model in 3D space.
When tied to the workstation, normally, the mouse is the physical interface with click & drag, scroll & zoom, keystroke shortcuts, and the usual array of accommodations for inherently 2D interfaces to 3D data. Hence the need and the added productivity of a 3D mouse. The benefits came on 2 levels and now 3Dconnexion has launched a new product that adds a 3rd level of productivity benefits.
Boost 3D CAD productivity with the SpaceMouse Pro from 3Dconnexion
First and most important for fundamentally changing how to interact with 3D data, 3D mice provide a means to hold the model in your hand. Once you have detached yourself from the mental gymnastics you have been performing for years to interact with a 3D model using a 2D mouse interface and adapt the more natural 3D mouse interface, you'll find a 3D mouse like the SpaceMouse Pro easy and natural to use. The ease of use comes from the 6-degrees of freedom sensor. 6-degrees of freedom capabilities are needed and often used in VR environments using force-feedback systems like those from Haption, so it hardly seems surprising that the same intuitive interface could be so useful in 3D modeling.
The second jump in productivity comes through the addition of programmable function keys. Of course shortcut keys and function keys on the keyboard can substitute, but there is not a substitute for having the buttons right where your hand is. Facility of movement for 15 commands at your fingertips give more than an incremental increase in productivity.
A third level of productivity gain is found in the latest 3D mouse product for Windows users through the on-screen, heads-up, display interface. The advantages should be clear – you keep your focus on the display and on your work. This more natural working environment reduces changing your focus from the display to your command buttons meaning faster work and less fatigue.
When it comes to ergonomics, the design of the SpaceMouse Pro is well done and professional. Most users should find it comfortable, even when working for hours at a time.
3Dconnexion talks about the SpaceMouse Pro
Below are the technical specifications from the SpaceMouse Pro :
- Full sized, soft coated hand rest
- 3Dconnexion™ six-degrees-of-freedom (6Dof) sensor
- QuickView Keys
- Rotation Toggle Key
- Intelligent Function Keys
- On-screen Display
- Keyboard Modifiers (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Esc)
- Virtual NumPad
- 15 programmable keys in total
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 204 x 142mm x 58mm / 8″ x 5.6″ x 2.3″
- Weight: 665g / 1.47lb
- 3-year warranty
Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 7 (RTM, all editions), Windows Vista (RTM, SP1 and SP2, all editions), Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (RTM, SP2, SP3), Windows XP Professional (SP2, SP3)
- Mac OS X v. 10.4.6
- Linux Red Hat Enterprise WS 4, SuSE Linux 9.3
- IBM AIX 5.2 ML04, HP-UX 11, Sun Solaris 8 (SPARC), Sun Solaris 10 (x86/x64)
The 3Dconnexion website
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