Visual, tactile and gazing line - action linkage system for 3D shape evaluation in virtual space

A new virtual system for shape evaluation is proposed, which integrates the visual information in virtual space and the tactile and gazing line-action information in real space. The preference of 3D shape images in the proposed virtual space is compared with that of the real photoforming products made from the same data in 28 subjects by the sensory evaluation of paired comparison and the questionnaire analysis. It was found that the preference for shapes was consistent in both spaces in the relation of preference among shapes based on the Bradley-Terry model in sensory evaluation. This indicates that the proposed system provides almost the same environment as the real space for shape evaluation. The results of questionnaire also indicate that the proposed system is adequate to evaluate the 3D shapes in virtual space. The system enables one to investigate the human's sense for shape evaluation by handling the visual, tactile and gazing fine-action information.