Visualization of spatial expression ability using a 3-D expression system

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze how children develop their spatial expression ability in 3-D space. We prepared a 3-D expression system that has "Translation-test", "Rotation-test" and "Paper-lay-out-test". As an experiment, we collected data by using our 3-D expression system for children between the ages of 4 and 6 in a pre-school in August 2009, January 2010, and August 2010. We conducted a survey on correlation between the system and WPPSI: WPPSI is an IQ test. At these experiments, we conducted 5 performance tests with WPPSI. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Children are able to recognize virtual 3-D space of the system, and are able to express images in virtual 3-D space; 2) The data shows the trend that spatial expression ability in space becomes better with advancing ages; 3) We obtained correlations between the system and WPPSI. The system can analyze some abilities that are difficult for WPPSI. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.