Pressure-sketch: a tablet-based design system in immersive VR

Sketch design is generally a feasible concept within virtual reality (VR). However, VR controllers suffer from a fundamental problem that limits operability and immersion, which is the difficulty of imitating the texture of natural materials. To solve these challenges, we developed a tablet-based design system named Pressure-Sketch (PSK) around the tactile features of the digital tablet and stylus. PSK could provide an intuitive design workflow for VR. The digital tablet is covered with natural wood to give a more realistic feel. In addition, utilizing the pressure property, users can directly touch the material by the stylus to create lines with varying widths. An evaluated user study revealed that PSK could significantly improve designs’ accuracy and aesthetic quality. Moreover, the system has a better sense of immersion. We are willing to explore the differences between more types of materials on sketching in VR.