Abstract: A user of a modeling application uses a haptic interface device in the real world to manipulate a virtual tool in a virtual environment to interact with a virtual object. The user can use the tool to evaluate the shape of the virtual object and navigate its virtual surface, based on an interactive force feedback approach. When the user attempts to penetrate the virtual object with the virtual tool, a modeling application limits the movement of the virtual tool depending on the geometry of the surface, the position of the virtual tool, and a haptic interface location in the virtual environment, which represents the physical location of the haptic interface device in the real world. The user can evaluate different geometries of the virtual surface, including an edge geometry, such as occurs when the virtual tool is touching or moving along an edge of the virtual object.

Abstract: An article carrier that can be converted from a shoulder bag into a briefcase and back again. A web member functions as a strap when the article carrier is used as a shoulder bag, and as a handle when it converted for use as a briefcase. One embodiment features a web member strap that wraps about itself to form a handle for the briefcase, and unwraps to hang over a user's shoulder for the shoulder bag. In another embodiment, the user compresses the web about itself and folds it through an aperture located at the bottom of the web to form the handle. The article carrier can quickly and easily be converted from a shoulder bag into a briefcase or from a briefcase back into a shoulder bag, depending on the needs of the user.