In a number of key applications (including medicine, petroleum exploration, education and computer aided design) it is often necessary to visualize and interact with complex voluminous (3-D) data sets. Interaction is most commonly achieved using the conventional flat screen computer display accompanied by the keyboard, mouse and joystick. However, as 3-D applications grow in complexity, these conventional interface tools are inhibiting our ability to efficiently visualize the results of the computational process, and can cause the interaction process to become both clumsy and non-intuitive. In short, in an increasing number of situations conventional interface techniques are limiting the bandwidth of the bi-directional human-computer interface and in turn this reduces the efficiency with which we are able to utilize computer technologies.
This problem primarily arises because conventional interface technologies fail to properly capitalise on the powerful and complex human sensory systems (particularly the full capabilities of our visual sense and aspects of proprioception). We briefly outline some of the limitations of current interface technologies: