We live in three-dimensional worlds, and physically we can move
easily through 3D space. But mapping our intuitive sense of
space, movement, and position to the computer is a massive
challenge. Our interfaces are primarily two-dimensional, and
even the three-dimensional interfaces may lack the kind of sense
of space that comes naturally to a child. Sebastian Pirch writes
with a new project combining an array of open source tools to
enable gestural modeling in 3D space. The heady brew of tools: a
simple mesh modeller that uses KINECTs depth perception and
homemade data gloves for a more real world oriented user
interaction in virtual 3d space. realized only with open source
software PURE DATA, GEM, OpenNI, UBUNTU. First try, but already
pretty useable and a fun to play with. We’ve seen Sebastian’s
work before, bending free software visual programming
environment Pd/GEM to new limits; see: But this is a fascinating
new take. What I find interesting, and perhaps most promising,
is the combination of Kinect’s cam