Characterizing tool use in an interactive drawing environment

The metaphor of tool use for describing the interaction between a human and a computer is pervasive in user interface design. The basic concept of tool use, however, is difficult to define precisely, for HCI purposes or in general. In this paper we argue that a close examination of physical tool use can improve the design of interactive software. We describe a drawing application, HabilisDraw, that incorporates some of the properties we associate with physical tools but are not commonly found in software: persistent tool objects that encapsulate behavior and information, that can be used in conjunction with one another, and that embody rich cues about their appropriate usage. Initial results from formative evaluation suggest that the approach has some promise.

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