Kazuhiro Oikawa

DO-IT: deformable objects as input tools

Standard input tools such as the mouse and keyboard do not provide users with a direct and intuitive means of 3-D shape manipulation. This study proposes a new concept of interface system for 3-D shape deformation using a deformable real object as an input tool. By deforming the tool with bare hands with a tactile feedback, users can manipulate a 3-D shape modeled and displayed on a computer screen directly and intuitively. A PC-based prototype system with a cubical input tool made of electrically conductive polyurethane foam demonstrates the effectiveness and promise of the concept.

Development of Computer Aided Instruction System for the Education of Finite Element Method

Finite element method (FEM) is widely used as a numerical method for structural analysis. However, it seems that there are many FEM users, who have not learned about the principle of the method and do not know a detailed structure of the program. In order to get a more reliable solution by FEM, the analyzer is required to have knowledge about principle and structure of the FEM system. We develop a new computer aided instruction system using super-minicomputer with personal computers and examine it in the FEM curriculum. In this paper, we will introduce principles and algorithms of the developed educational system and show how it is effective in the FEM education.