Spatial Interaction for the Post-Processing of 3D CFD Datasets F. Niebling 1 1 Human-Computer Interaction, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany Figure 1: Interactive slicing of a CFD dataset using a tablet as spatial interaction device Abstract Virtual Reality visualizations are often used for the evaluation of three-dimensional datasets generated by Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations. Several different tracked devices, such as pointers or data gloves, have been employed for spatial interactive post-processing and navigation. However, users utilizing these devices often achieve inaccurate results performing interactive slicing of datasets, a common technique during the assessment of CFD datasets. In our approach, we propose spatial interaction using tablets, which more closely resemble cutting planes, for planar surface extraction in VR environments. In contrast to traditional tracked devices, inside-out tracking of the environment can be achieved using the rear camera of the tablet, helping to make expensive external tracking systems expendable. A user study among novice and expert VR users supports the notion that tablets can be a fast and accurate alternative to traditional spatial input devices in VR environments. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): Information Interfaces and Presentation [H.5.2.]: User Interfaces— Interaction styles 1. Introduction Numerical simulations and assessment of resulting datasets are constantly gaining importance in product design and optimization workflows in many different fields of engineering. VR environ- ments such as powerwalls and CAVEs [CNSD93] play an impor- tant role in interactive post-processing of these datasets. By defin- ing immersive spatial 3D interaction spaces, single users or groups of users are enabled to navigate and interact with data in a natural way, often in a scale 1:1 environment. In large scale VR environments, multiple stereoscopic displays or projection systems are used to provide visual experiences. Highly accurate optical tracking systems enable the system to per- form spatial localization of various objects in the interaction space. By using head tracking, the virtual environment can adapt to user movement and change in orientation. Tracked interaction devices such as pointers, styluses, data gloves or fly sticks are made avail- able, which allow various application dependent spatial interactions to be carried out on the scene or dataset. c  2017 The Author(s) Eurographics Proceedings c  2017 The Eurographics Association. Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis) 2017 Short Paper B. Kozlíková, T. Schreck, and T. Wischgoll (Editors) DOI: 10.2312/eurovisshort.20171136