Flow selection: a time-based selection and operation technique for sketching tools

Flow selection is a time-based modeless selection and operation technique for freehand drawing and sketch tools. We offer flow selection as a modeless technique to address the observation that modal selection requires too much cognitive effort and causes breakdowns in creative flow. Flow selection provides input to a new class of operations by assigning increasing, fractional selection strengths to objects over time. We discuss the current prototype system and possible applications for this novel technique for interacting with sketches.