GRANT PROPOSAL: TRACING IDEAS THROUGH DIGITAL SKETCHING

Proposal for the NorthWest Academic Computer Consortium
2003 Proof of Concept Awards

Nancy Yen-wen Cheng, Principal Investigator
University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Department of Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Designers use drawings as a language for describing spaces, showing relationships and exploring possibilities. Novices need to translate visual information into sketch notation, abstract essential aspects into diagrams, and develop ambiguous marks into specific forms. The process of drawing is usually invisible in the final result, but with digital tools, sequential drawing marks can easily be captured.

Drawing instruction is typically taught either with traditional media (pencils, pens) or completely digitally on high-powered computers with 3-D modeling software. Particularly in large drawing classes (the norm for architecture classes), displaying an in-class drawing so that all students can see it clearly is difficult. Furthermore, there is currently no simple way to show students in-process examples of high-quality drawings. In this high-tech age, the gap is growing between quick hand sketches and computer-generated graphics.

This project uses Logitech Io digital pens that record the drawing and allow "instant replay" to enable us to observe how a designer constructed a picture. Students can review a drawing with an instructor to see where the picture "went wrong" if the final result is not pleasing. By recording how expert designers draw, we can identify and illustrate approaches for descriptive, analytic and generative drawing processes.

This digital sketching project builds on my study of digital mobile tools to help architecture students record visual and spatial information. (see http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~design/nywc/pdf/caadria03-cheng.pdf) From looking at how ergonomic and logistical factors affect learning with mobile tools, my research group found that the Logitech's Io digital scanning pen has a great potential for clarifying how architects think with a pen.

The Io pen tracks the movement of its ballpoint tip by scanning specially patterned paper so a digital record is created of the paper sketch or note. When docked to a computer, the device downloads a digital record of sequential pen strokes. With the accompanying software, we can view any step of the sketch in progress and export its image. The process of sketching is captured as an interactive slider-bar animation in the proprietary software that can be translated to a GIF Web animation.

Compared to handheld Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) and Tablet PC's, the single-purpose Io is simpler, more reliable and less expensive. The Io paper provides a larger drawing surface than most PDA's, a familiar pen-on-paper interface and a hardcopy backup.