Virtual 3D pointing and manipulation

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory device configured to store a 3D image and a presentation application executable by the processor for performing operations comprising:
• causing a presenter avatar including a video image captured at a first client device to be rendered on at least a second client device;
• detecting a positional input at the first client device, the positional input indicative of an interaction with the 3D image;
• causing, using a force model associated with the 3D image, a positioning of the presenter avatar and the 3D image on the second client device;
• and
• causing, in response to the positional input and based on the positioning using the force model, an articulated virtual appurtenance to be rendered on the second client device as connectably associated with the positional input, the 3D image, and the presenter avatar, the articulated virtual appurtenance and the 3D image being naturally positioned for the interaction with respect to the second client device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code executable by a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• capturing a presenter video image at a first client device;
• rendering a 3D image of a 3D object on the first client device and on a second client device;
• rendering a presenter avatar on at least the second client device, the presenter avatar including at least a portion of the presenter video image;
• detecting a positional input at the first client device, the positional input indicative of a physical interaction with the 3D image;
• and
• a step for rendering, in response to the positional input and based on a force model applied to the presenter avatar and the 3D image, a virtual interaction of the presenter avatar with the 3D image, wherein the virtual interaction includes an articulated virtual appurtenance corresponding to the physical interaction and is naturally positioned for the second client device.