MolecuSense: Using Force-Feedback Gloves for Creating and Interacting with Ball-and-Stick Molecules in VR

Authors. Patrick Gebhardt, Xingyao Yu, Andreas Köhn, Michael Sedlmair

Venue. VINCI (2022) Short Paper

Type. Short Paper

Materials. DOI PDF

Abstract. We contribute MolecuSense, a virtual version of a physical molecule construction kit, based on visualization in Virtual Reality (VR) and interaction with force-feedback gloves. Targeting at chemistry education, our goal is to make virtual molecule structures more tangible. Results of an initial user study indicate that the VR molecular construction kit was positively received. Compared to a physical construction kit, the VR molecular construction kit is on the same level in terms of natural interaction. Besides, it fosters the typical digital advantages though, such as saving, exporting, and sharing of molecules. Feedback from the study participants has also revealed potential future avenues for tangible molecule visualizations.

@inproceedings{10.1145/3554944.3554956,
    title        = {{MolecuSense}: Using Force-Feedback Gloves for Creating and Interacting with Ball-and-Stick Molecules in {VR}},
    author       = {Gebhardt, Patrick and Yu, Xingyao and K\"{o}hn, Andreas and Sedlmair, Michael},
    year         = {2022},
    booktitle    = {Proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Visual Information Communication and Interaction (VINCI)},
    publisher    = {ACM},
    series       = {VINCI '22},
    doi          = {10.1145/3554944.3554956},
    url          = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3554944.3554956},
    abstract     = {We contribute MolecuSense, a virtual version of a physical molecule construction kit, based on visualization in Virtual Reality (VR) and interaction with force-feedback gloves. Targeting at chemistry education, our goal is to make virtual molecule structures more tangible. Results of an initial user study indicate that the VR molecular construction kit was positively received. Compared to a physical construction kit, the VR molecular construction kit is on the same level in terms of natural interaction. Besides, it fosters the typical digital advantages though, such as saving, exporting, and sharing of molecules. Feedback from the study participants has also revealed potential future avenues for tangible molecule visualizations.},
    articleno    = {15},
    numpages     = {5},
    keywords     = {human-computer interaction, Virtual reality, digital gloves}
}