Changing Modes

Hi all,

This week I'm working on a simple GUI for switching between the creation, selection, and control modes. I haven't come up with the best solution, but it should work and that's the most important thing at this time. Being able to switch modes will allow me to implement and test the features of one mode without interference from the others (such as trying to create agents but accidentally selecting newly created ones).

Simple GUI for changing between creation, selection, and control modes.
In this example, the right hand has selected create mode and the left hand is creating new agents.

Three tabs will be labeled for each mode.  Moving a hand point near these tabs will cause the closest tab to move out, and perhaps change color. This reaction both signals the user and hopefully makes it easier for the user to then select that tab if they want to.  By hovering over the tab for some amount of time, the tab is selected and the mode is changed.

Creation

When in creation mode, the hands can move around the scene and create agents.  One idea is that moving a hand forward in the depth plane will 'plant' the agent, thus creating one at that point.  This way agents aren't being created in every point in space where the hand was located and also gives the user some control, unlike  an alternative idea which would be to simply delay when agents are created.

Selection

This is the mode I've been working on the most.  Here both hands can select separate groups of agents and then each group follows that respective hand.  I think I will leave this simple control aspect in the selection mode for now.

Control

The control mode will probably have a few of its own tabs each representing a different control scheme.  Select groups in selection mode and then go to control mode.  The selections will then be locked and the user can set up different control schemes by first selecting the scheme to use and then using the appropriate gesture.

I would like to not have to rely on selecting tabs... but for now, like mentioned before, it would be the easiest way to implement all of the different aspects and test them separately.  I'm definitely open to any ideas about ways around this.  Another issue I can already foresee, is selecting agents and then moving the hand to the tabs.  If you want to select a specific agent in the middle of a large group, how can the user tell the system that it only wants that one and not pick up other agents on the way to that agent and on the way back to the tabs?  I guess one way would be to have two selection schemes.  One where both hands can freely move about and select agents, and another where both hands work in tandem to inhibit selection until the desired agent is reached.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Once the different modes are set up I will begin working on some of the control schemes.  Leader following, simple directional headings, and maybe flow fields are ones that I would like to start with.  There will be more about that in future posts.

Thank you,

Marley