This looks like it may help to solve the problem of steep learning curves in 3D modeling. As someone who is just starting out with 3D modeling, and who knows a bunch of artists that want to get started with 3D printing, it seems like this could be the perfect solution once the price comes down a bit.
http://leonar3do.com/en/products
Unfortunately, this looks to me like it’d be even MORE difficult for beginners to learn how to do 3D modelling for 3D printing with this interface! The interface does nothing to improve on the software workflow (understanding meshes, vertices, software quirks), its just a much more complicated input device. In my experience working with undergrad art students, its not the WIMP interface paradigm that is the hard part (they grow up with it, so they already feel comfortable with it). It is the necessary shift towards iterative problem solving that is more difficult (i.e., you have to try many, many things and deal with frustration well).
Since the first days of computing, alternative input devices have popped up over and over claiming to ‘revolutionize’ computing for the masses (see the “light pen” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pen, the multi-touch interfaces build by CERN in the 60s and others). The problem involved in that steep learning curve isn’t necessarily the hardware interface, its that many beginners are results-oriented, and need to develop more process-oriented methodologies to be successful.
That being said, if this device was <$100, I’d buy one, just because it looks like fun. But the novelty would probably wear off after a month or so
here if anyone needs assistance