What is it about?
Computer-aided design (CAD) is a popular way to create 3D models using direct manipulation, which means users can quickly change a visual representation of their design. However, some users prefer a programming-based approach, using a specific programming language like OpenSCAD to create complex geometries with more abstraction. Unfortunately, most CAD research is focused on direct manipulation, which doesn't help programming-based users. So, we talked to 20 programming-based CAD users to learn how they design and what challenges they face. We found that these users struggle with things like 3D spatial understanding, validating their design, and figuring out code errors.
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Why is it important?
Programming-based CAD applications are becoming increasingly important in design, but research has largely ignored the user experience and challenges. Our study represents the first comprehensive effort to identify the problems faced by users of these applications, using real-time feedback to understand their motivations and specific issues they face in 3D printing design. By providing insights into the obstacles encountered, this study's findings can help improve users' design experience and inform future development of programming-based CAD platforms.
Perspectives
The HCI community has made great strides in creating easy-to-learn technologies, such as direct manipulation, to improve user experience. While this is important, it has also led to a neglect of users who prefer non-popular alternatives like programming-based CAD. This research aims to highlight the potential of programming-based CAD and address these users' specific challenges. Ultimately, this research can provide insights not only for experts but also for newcomers interested in using this technology by lowering the barriers to learning how to design with programming-based CAD.
Johann Felipe Gonzalez
College Doctoral Europeen Universite Lille Nord de France
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Understanding the Challenges of OpenSCAD Users for 3D Printing, May 2024, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3613904.3642566.
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