Windows7 and More. How Will You Use 3D CAD in 2010?

Published
by
Josh
on October 29, 2008
in Tech to Watch
. Tags: , , .

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how will multitouch in windows 7 be used with solidworksThe news about Windows7, Microsoft next OS, has been pouring out of the seething cauldron of Microsoft PDC this week, getting all the fanboys and multi-touch crazies in a ruckus.

Are you all just extremely AMPPED? No? Well, for those gnashing their teeth over Vista, the new OS promises to be the escape Microsoft wants to provide it’s ever so constrained loyal user base, and they plan to provide it even before 2010 gets here.

However, this raises some interesting questions for 3D CAD users. Multi-touch navigation across the screen? How will display technology develop? What engineering design companies are aware of these technology changes? Enjoy a very choppy preview video, my thoughts and your opinions after the break.


Windows 7 Preview

How will this affect 3D CAD?
Not much… at first. It will be neat to navigate, pan, zoom, etc. through everything. It’s actualyl hard not to get carried away with the possibilities here. What I do hope is that 3D CAD vendors, especially SolidWorks, is looking at, not only the onscreen interactive manipulation of 3D geometry, but also command structure and workflow.

Multi-touch becomes much less linear and opens up a lot more possibilities for how commands are initiated and completed. Oh, and this doesn’t all have to be done with hands either. (It’s beyond me, why there has been very little research into multi-point input technology.)

Anyway, enough of my opinion, what do you think about all this? What’s your wildest dreams for SolidWorks utilizing functionality in Windows 7?

More on Windows 7
Gizmodo Windows 7 Walkthrough
Arstechnica Windows 7 Walkthrough
BBC Video peek

Update:
All sorts of display technology this week…
Samsung displayed its new 4″ superthin, highly flexible .05mm OLED screen.
Metaio is mixing the physical with the virtual with their 3D augmented reality program.
Shinoda will start 125″ curved plasma screen production May 2009

Windows 7 on a flexible display? a curved display? hmmm.

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Viewing 7 Comments

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    Honestly touch technology stinks for regular computing use. It takes large tiring gestures. Waving your arms all day is exhausting. Something like the space explorer is more likely to be useful for heavy users.
    Very shiny for demos but that is about it.
    • ^
    • v
    Yeah, if multi-touch is used with interface intensive software, graphics editing, 3D modeling, the hardware and monitors are gonna have to change along with it. I think it's going to be a combination of multiple touch points and an adaptive command/creation process.
    • ^
    • v
    I think Scott's demo, of mudbox, shows how 7 will change design modelling;

    http://labs.blogs.com/its_alive_in_the_lab/2008...
    • ^
    • v
    Awesome Robin, thanks. Nice to see R&D is looking into this. I have to say though, while the command and functionality seem intuitive, there's a lot of development, or rather potential, on the command side of the program, that needs to take different workflows and input devices into account. The changes over the next several years are going to be phenomenal. Thanks!
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    • v
    Josh, I'm triggered by your comment on the research into Multi-Point input technology.

    WunderWorks just released a free version of its TeamPlayer Multi-User, Multi-Mouse-Keyboard softare.
    We won a Dutch innovation award for it's strong relations with research institutes
    .
    I'm interested in your point of view on this development.

    A short quote from the press release:

    Wednesday October 29, 2008 14:10:01

    Multi-User Desktop Now a Reality; A Bright Future for Collaboration on One Desktop!

    WunderWorks, an Interaction Solutions Company, Announced Today it Has Made Available a Free Version of its TeamPlayer Multi-User, Multi-Mouse-Keyboard Software
    "WunderWorks, the company that supplies IBM, Barco and other global brands with specialized multi user software, releases a free downloadable version of its TeamPlayer software. It enables multiple users to work together on a single standard Windows computer. The software works with multiple mice and keyboards or other input devices in all existing software.

    The Dutch company developed the knowledge and software that allows multiple users to work together on one PC. Its products are already delivered to OEM's around the world; it will now make WunderWorks' TeamPlayer software available to the rest of the world.

    CEO Arpad Gerecsey: "We believe multi-user software is the next big thing. Although PC's have become standard equipment in almost any environment, up until now only one person could work on a PC. Turning the desktop into a public space will bring true digital collaboration within reach. "

    Business meetings, educational sessions and creative gatherings will all benefit from our software. They will not be about one person controlling the mouse and keyboard anymore; anyone can work on the desktop at any time. You can even include your digital whiteboard as an input device. Parents can sit next to their child and together use the computer, simply by adding an extra mouse to the PC. True live digital cooperation is finally here, and people love it!

    WunderWorks will add new features monthly, including multi-user white boarding, a Sandbox to create your own multi-user apps, Teacher modules, remote PC/IP input etc. Other releases such as its BrainStorm+(R) application and a PowerPoint(R) plug-in are planned for December 2008.

    Barco says: "...enhanced efficiency, communication and commitment from our operators..." University InHolland says: "the teacher sits in with the students, and they work through the material together, teaching each other as they go..." A mother says: "I can now assist my five year old, while he discovers the computer, without having to fight him for control over the mouse or keyboard."

    http://www.wunderworks.com to download TeamPlayer 2.0.
    • ^
    • v
    Marteen, I like the wunderworks tech, but I'm looking at it from a single user perspective where multiple points adapt to the users gestures and command usage. It's definitely going the right direction though, particularly as it pertains to multi-user design environments.
    • ^
    • v
    nice content....
 

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