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My Take on the SpaceNavigator
posted by Satri
on Tuesday May 15, @09:57AM
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from the learning-to-love-gadgets? dept.
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A few geobloggers previously shared their experience with 3DConnexion's SpaceNavigator. What it is? This input device replaces your mouse allowing you to navigate within virtual globes. Google Earth is supported (even the Mac version with GE 4.1), ArcMap 9.2 and NASA World Wind and even Microsoft's web-based Virtual Earth is supported along with various other apps such as SketchUp. Read more below for my "review".
First, even if 3DConnexions offered me the device for free, I had to pay for it (about 50% of its value because of custom fees... who said Canada and U.S. has a free-trade agreement? ;-) and I was clear from the start that I would not necessarily write about it and if I did, it could be negatively. Disclaimer: I only tested it with GE4.1 Mac, but I guess most of my comments apply to other apps.
So, what's nice about it? It *does* allow you to move smoothly in your virtual globe. The device is quite pretty, its weight is perfect (pulling up the upper part of the device is required to zoom in/out) and using it with a single hand becomes easy once accustomed. It does took me time to familiarize with the device and finding the right settings for spatial brain (e.g. axis inversion).
On the less-positive side, the driver still has rough corners (at least the MacOS X one), but this should be alleviated with time. The device takes little but precious space on your desk which you might not be ready to lose. The SpaceNavigator is not cheap (but not too expensive either), you'll probably shell out the money only if you're convinced your going to use it regularly. Like any technology, people will use it in ways the creators might not have thought of.
Do you need it? I am a minimalist (e.g. no TV, no microwave, no car) and believe in "the things you own end up owining you" (stolen from Fight Club) often applies. Will I use it? Sure, it's there now. Would I have bought it? No, I don't spend that much time with virtual globes. Our in-house open source virtual globe at work will probably never be compatible with it. When I first tried it I initially though I'd write something like "nice cool device but who really needs it?", but no, navigating Google Earth with the SpaceNavigator is fun and addictive. That said, I guess it will mostly be useful to those who spend a significant part of their day using one of the supported applications.
So, what's nice about it? It *does* allow you to move smoothly in your virtual globe. The device is quite pretty, its weight is perfect (pulling up the upper part of the device is required to zoom in/out) and using it with a single hand becomes easy once accustomed. It does took me time to familiarize with the device and finding the right settings for spatial brain (e.g. axis inversion).
On the less-positive side, the driver still has rough corners (at least the MacOS X one), but this should be alleviated with time. The device takes little but precious space on your desk which you might not be ready to lose. The SpaceNavigator is not cheap (but not too expensive either), you'll probably shell out the money only if you're convinced your going to use it regularly. Like any technology, people will use it in ways the creators might not have thought of.
Do you need it? I am a minimalist (e.g. no TV, no microwave, no car) and believe in "the things you own end up owining you" (stolen from Fight Club) often applies. Will I use it? Sure, it's there now. Would I have bought it? No, I don't spend that much time with virtual globes. Our in-house open source virtual globe at work will probably never be compatible with it. When I first tried it I initially though I'd write something like "nice cool device but who really needs it?", but no, navigating Google Earth with the SpaceNavigator is fun and addictive. That said, I guess it will mostly be useful to those who spend a significant part of their day using one of the supported applications.
Related Stories
Reviews: SpaceNavigator Input Device Reviews 3 comments
[+]
Both Ogle Earth and the Google Earth Blog share enthusiastic reviews of 3DConnexion's SpaceNavigator input device which allows six degrees of freedom, able to control Google Earth, SketchUp and more to come. From Ogle Earth: "But does it work? Oh yeah. After about 2 minutes my left hand disappeared and I began to mind-meld with Earth. Think Rotate and that's what Earth does. Push in and you zoom in. It's a completely new level of control, and it's completely addictive. The sensitivity is proportionate to your altitude, so at sea level you can work with sub-meter precision. Zoom out and you can traverse the world in a second. Look up above the horizon if you like, or pan, zoom and rotate all at once. You can make yourself queasy without trying very hard."
3DConnexion SpaceNavigator Now Works with ArcMap 9.2 and NASA World Wind 1.4
[+]
Spatially Adjusted tells us there is now a 3DConnexion SpaceNavigator driver for ESRI ArcMap 9.2. Meanwhile, The Earth is Square tells us NASA World Wind 1.4 is officially supported. Is this newsworthy? Well, judging on this video, it may help ESRI's ArcMap users improve their efficiency in some cases. From the developer in a SA's comment: "This is my own temporary solution until ESRI or 3Dconnxion releases the “official” driver. I just love SpaceNavigator, and I couldn’t wait. I tested this “beta” driver using ArcMap 9.1 and 9.2, and it seems to work."
Industry: Google Earth 4.1 Beta Released
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Ogle Earth was first but The Google Earth blog provides the details about the release of Google Earth 4.1 Beta. From the blog: " Here are a few things I've noticed in GE 4.1: SpaceNavigator for the Mac - I installed the application, plugged in my SpaceNavigator, and it now works on GE 4.1! [...] Tips - when you first open Google Earth 4.1 you get a "Tips" window which shows suggestions of things you can try, or instructions of how to use some feature in GE. [...] Starting Location - there is a new starting location added to your "My Places". I'm told by Google you get a different starting location depending on what country version of Google Earth you use. [...] View in Maps - this is a LONG-awaited new feature. At the top of Google Earth, where the tool icons appear, you see a new icon at the right which looks like a "map" - this button enables the new "View in Google Maps" option. When you click on it, it opens your browser window and shows you the same view in Google Maps. [...] New Installation Process [...] New Language Versions"
Industry: SpaceNavigator Support in ESRI Applications
[+]
Logitech announced the SpaceNavigator input device now supports ESRI applications. Here's my own review of the SpaceNavigator last spring. After using it myself, I do believe geoprofessionals can actually improve their efficiency with such a device, and it's fun to use. From this Spatially Adjusted entry: "In ArcMap, you don’t have a 3D view, but it works well for the 2D environment. The zoom/pan/rotate works well for navigating. The rotate function of the SpaceNavigator is a real time saver as you can rotate as easily as panning and zooming. I was very productive using the SpaceNavigator with my left hand and using my mouse with the right.
We’ll see how my opinion changes with time, but right now any ArcGIS user can improve their productivity whether or not they use 3D." See also related stories below.
10 Million Downloads at Google Earth Hacks
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mickmel writes "Google Earth Hacks is days away from their 10 millionth file download. Coupled with the roughly 250 million Google Earth downloads and well over 1,000 posts at the Google Earth Blog, it appears that Google Earth continues to be as popular as ever. To mark the occasion, 3DConnexion has supplied a couple of their awesome SpaceNavigators to give away. The contest is simply to see who can most accurately guess the date/time of the 10 millionth download. More details about the contest can be found here, and here is the thread to enter."
SpaceNavigator Support in WWJava
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The Earth Is Square blog brings us news about this. Hop over there to view the video. Here is their summary : "Rgosh from the WorldWindCentral fourm has some code he has developed to make the SpaceNavigator work in Linux for WWJava."
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I have one at work
(Score:2, Informative)( http://paulomarcondes.googlepages.com/ )
I don't use it for geo-related applications, but for 3D geo-modelling. All I have to say is that it was of great help to get me cured from a bad carpal tunnel syndrome. It was almost a year and half, after I got my arm into caster
Now I consider any device that evens the load on my hands to be worth its weight in palladium =]
Ah, that wrist is much better now, thanks for asking.
Another review
(Score:2)( http://alexandreleroux.blogspot.com/ | Last Journal: Friday March 17, @05:07PM )