ViewSketch: A Multi-Viewpoint Interface for Accurate 3D Sketching in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) enables 3D sketching beyond physical constraints. Yet most systems default to a first-person perspective (1PP), overlooking other viewpoints that could improve users’ spatial understanding. In this paper, we address this gap through two sequential user studies. First, we conducted Study 1 with 24 participants to examine the effects of 1PP, third-person perspective (3PP), and multiple-third-person perspective (M3PP) on sketching performance, experience, and movement strategies. Based on these findings, we designed two novel multi-viewpoint interfaces: ViewSketch-Third and ViewSketch-Cube. We then conducted Study 2, a qualitative evaluation with 12 participants, to compare the usability of these two interfaces. Our results from Study 1 show that 1PP provides the best drawing accuracy, while 3PP and M3PP offer a better overview of the sketch. Feedback from Study 2 demonstrates how ViewSketch-Third and ViewSketch-Cube leverage these viewpoint benefits, offering design insights to help future 3D sketching interfaces better support spatial perception, especially for large-scale objects.