Removing the pencil from the drawing

In spite of industrial designers' reliance on computer technology, the early-stage product design process is still dominated by the traditional pen-and-pencil method. The SMARTSKETCHES project aimed to change that and introduce new design systems applicable within virtual as well as augmented reality settings.

Digital Economy

The project's key outcome is the SketchAR system, encompassing a number of sketching and sytling elements. One of those elements, the Handed tape drawing, is a method employed in the automobile industry. SMARTSKETCHES researchers developed a 2-handed virtual tape drawing approach enabling the user create curves on planes as well as in 3D space. Additional functionalities include the combination of hand and speech commands. Aside from its numerous innovations, SketchAR can be utilised for collaborative online work. An integration backbone has already been implemented based on the available framework, resulting in SketchNet, which allows information exchange over web services. SketchNet allows the collaborative online use of SketchAR and can thus introduce varied inputs from spatially dispersed users at the initial product-design phases. The developed SketchAR system prototype is available for testing and patent applications are pending. Although further research is needed to optimise the system and develop a marketable product, the final version could find applications in a number of settings. These include manufacturing technologies, construction/engineering industries and telecommunications among others.