The GIS WallBoard

Funding Agency:

Summary:

Under the NCGIA's Research Initiative 17 on Collaborative Spatial Decision Making, we are investigating human-computer interactions with new GIS technology of the size of an entire Wall. Such new technology would enable GIS users to work with information systems in completely new ways, by manipulating spatial objects or scenes with their bare hands and querying through gesture, voice, or a combination of the two. The central component of this interaction is the WallBoard, a GIS device whose design is based on the metaphor of an office whiteboard, with tools--both physical, such as markers and erasers, and virtual, such as lenses and measuring devices--that have similar usage capabilities to those tools associated with a regular whiteboard. The WallBoard replaces the look-and-feel of the desktop of today's personal computers. Unlike smaller-scaled devices where a user performs all interactions from more or less the same position and perspective, the WallBoard allows users to interact from three different spaces: Within arm's length, users may have physical contact with the objects they are manipulating; within spitting distance they gesture primarily; and within sight of the WallBoard they watch and at times interact with the WallBoard through the use of additional computing devices. Within arm's length, the WallBoard affords gesture interactions with geographic objects by selecting objects or areas, zooming in and out of a sub-area, panning, and rotating a scene.

J. Florence, K. Hornsby, and M. Egenhofer, The GIS WallBoard: Interactions with Spatial Information on Large-Scale Display

Last updated on January 13, 1997.