This document outlines the development of a tangible user interface (TUI) for teaching 3D modeling to children called TADCAD. It discusses insights from interviews with educators that 3D modeling is difficult to conceptualize. The goal of TADCAD is to make 3D modeling accessible by providing a physical and gamified experience that inspires creativity. The process explores creating tangible controllers and transforming 2D sketches over space and time. It proposes prototyping pieces that can be 3D printed and become tools for further modeling. The next steps involve gesture design, studying how children learn through movement, collaborating with teachers, and assessing learning outcomes over time.

1. TADCAD

2. intro

3. flickr, john biehlerintro

4. intro
(With laptops) all the interaction
and functionality of 3d modeling is
loaded into two fingers.
Mike, Autodesk
“

5. intro
Cognitive development of projective
geometry starts around age 7
Jean Piaget, psychologist and philosopher
“

6. intro
An important part of becoming a
good learner is … pushing out the
frontier of what we can express with
words.
Seymour Papert, “Mindstorms” (1980)
“

7. intro
We don't teach 3D modeling because
3D is hard (to conceptualize).
David, middle school design teacher
“

8. design challenge accepted
concept

9. concept
Help kids learn 3d modeling in a fun and
physical way that gets them engaged and
inspired to build complex creations

10. concept
input
inspiration
confidence & feedback

11. concept
Make 3D modeling accessible to non-experts
providing exposure to CAD vocabulary
Give kids a new way of thinking
anything can be made out of simple shapes
Bridging the tangible and the digital
closing the confidence feedback loop
Inspiring kids with creativity
providing goals to build towards

12. process

13. process

14. process

15. process
Question 1:
How do people 3D model without a
computer interface?

17. Insight:
Gestures are powerful as physical metaphors,
but they aren’t enough to carry precise meaning
They are difficult to capture across cultures and technology mediums
process

18. Insight:
Gesturing with tools provides more
immediate and physical feedback
“A tool addresses human needs by amplifying human capabilities.“
– Bret Victor
process

19. process

20. Question 2:
How might we create tangible
controllers for 3d modeling?
process

21. process

22. process

23. Insight:
Teach 3d through the transformation
of 2d over space and time.
Start with the same metaphor used in CAD modeling: a sketching plane
process

24. process
input
inspiration
confidence & feedback

25. Question 3:
How might we gamify 3d modeling?
process

26. 9-10 year olds are very goal oriented.
Isabel Froes, studying children and digital learning
“
process

27. process

28. process
Insight:
Create a context that provides a journey
Develop implicit goals where kids build the tools they need over time

29. process

30. process
Insight:
You can actually build the tools you need
3d printed pieces become a tool for the next phase of the journey

32. Question 3:
How can this system be prototyped?

33. Question 3:
How can this system be prototyped?
prototype

34. prototype

35. prototype

36. game pad
grouper
build field
camera’s field of view

37. the tree
prototype

38. prototype

39. feedback
Question 4:
How will children interact with the prototype?

40. feedback

41. Insight:
Gestures are still a learned interaction paradigm
feedback

43. Insight:
Offer inspired play rather than guided play

44. Unanswered:
Are kids learning from this platform?
(also, girls?)
feedback

46. Next steps:
Gesture design
Study how kids learn by moving
Collaborate with teachers
And stakeholders in education
Assess learning over time
How can we pack learnings into interactions
Continue exploring TUI
TADCAD is just one solution
reflection

47. Future features
into the future

48. into the future
Future journeys

49. thanks
to you &
CIID
Anders Højmose
Bjørns International School
Coding Pirates
Copenhagen FabLab
Carl Emil Carlsen
Copenhagen International School
Isabel Froes
Ishac Bertran
Mike Aubry
Paal Smith-Meyer
Rob Ochshorn
Siddarth Muthyala
Simona Maschi
Tobias Toft
Tomorrow Lab
& many more