Evaluation of User Interaction with Daylighting Simulation in a Tangible User Interface

We present a study of a tangible user interface for design and simulation applied to architectural daylighting analysis. This tool provides an intuitive way for architects and future occupants of a building to quickly construct physical models and interactively view in them a projected simulation of resulting daylighting. A user study was conducted of both architecture students and non-architects in a set of analysis and design exercises. The study investigates the effectiveness of this interface as an educational tool, the precision and accuracy of the constructed physical models, and the overall effectiveness of the tangible interface for creative design exploration. The four part study investigates users’ intuitions about daylighting and their interaction with the tangible user interface for analysis of an existing space, for proposing renovations to that space, and for designing a new environment. These exercises revealed and corrected misconceptions in many of the participants’ intuitions about daylighting, and overall the participants praised the ease-of-use of the tool and expressed interest in this simulation tool for daylighting analysis in architectural design.