Computer graphics hardware supporting real-time interactive
3D animation has the potential to support effective user
interfaces by enabling virtual 3D workspaces. However, this
potential requires development of viewpoint movement techniques
that support rapid and controlled movement through
workspaces. Rapid movement through large distances avoids
wasted work time; controlled movement near target objects
allows the user to examine and interact with objects in the
workspace. Current techniques for viewpoint movement typicaUy
use high velocities to cover distances rapidly, but high
velocities are hard to control near objects. This paper describes
a new technique for targeted viewpoint movement
that solves this problem. The key idea is to have the user
indicate a point of interest (target) on a 3D object and use
the distance to this target to move the viewpoint logarithlnically,
by moving the same relative percentage of distance to
the target on every animation cycle. The result is rapid motion
over distances that slows as the viewpoint approaches
the target object. The technique can be used with 2D and
multidimensional input devices. We also extend the technique
to move objects in the workspace.