The theatre metaphor for spatial computing in architectural design

Abstract

New digital technologies require new conceptual approaches to help potential users understand existing and envision new use cases and applications. Moving from desktop computing to spatial computing (virtual, augmented, mixed and extended reality environments) also requires the introduction of new metaphors. New interaction and visualisation possibilities afforded by current devices are causing virtual and real worlds to merge into an inseparable unity of reality and imagination. There are many similarities between theatre and AEC workflows. However, the theatre process is scaled down in terms of space, time, and budget, and is therefore better suited to explore innovative and experimental methods. In order to conceptualise the role of a novel spatial computing drawing tool (MR.Sketch) in existing AEC processes, we propose the theatre metaphor, which embeds the conceptual foundations of the tool in a collaborative design workflow based on the cooperation of different domain experts. The metaphor proposal includes the analysis of the following theatre concepts: integrative collaboration with specialists, stage infrastructure, workshops for different tools and manufacturing methods, stocks and the immersive experience of space and time in different scales. We illustrate the capabilities of the theatre metaphor to cover the entire creation and performance process of architectural design in an experimental mixed reality sketching application. The implementation of an early prototype of the sketching application was used to evaluate the applicability of the theatre metaphor to spatial computing.