3D Selection Vault

Flexible Pointer

A flexible 3D pointing technique that bends the pointer path, allowing users to select fully or partially obscured objects in augmented and virtual reality environments.

How it works

The user controls a virtual pointer whose shape can bend around occluding objects. Instead of pointing only along a straight line, the pointer can curve toward a target that is not directly visible or not easily reachable with standard egocentric pointing.

Papers

• Alex Olwal, Steven Feiner (2003). The Flexible Pointer: An Interaction Technique for Selection in Augmented and Virtual Reality. ACM UIST 2003 Conference Supplement, pp. 81–82 link
• Ferran Argelaguet, Carlos Andujar (2013). A survey of 3D object selection techniques for virtual environments. Computers & Graphics doi:10.1016/j.cag.2012.12.003
• Difeng Yu, Tilman Dingler, Eduardo Velloso, Jorge Goncalves (2024). Object Selection and Manipulation in VR Headsets: Research Challenges, Solutions, and Success Measurements. ACM Computing Surveys doi:10.1145/3706417
• Jan Leusmann (2021). A Literature Review on Distant Object Selection Methods. Master's thesis, University of Stuttgart doi:10.18419/opus-12060