1. A computer aided design station for manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object, comprising: a display operably linked to the design station to display the three-dimensional scene including the at least one object; a three-dimensional icon displayed in the three-dimensional scene on the display, the three-dimensional icon including three perpendicular axis segments to cause translational movement of the at least one object, and three arcs to cause rotational movement of the at least one object, each arc extending from one of the perpendicular axis segments to another of the perpendicular axis segments, each arc extending between a different pair of the perpendicular axis segments; an input unit, operably linked to the design station, to receive in tandem a two-dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select part of the three-dimensional icon for operation; and a processor operably linked to the input unit to render, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the part of the three-dimensional icon, the following motion: if an axis segment is the part of the three-dimensional icon selected for operation by the selection signal, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected axis segment, and if an arc is the part of the three-dimensional icon selected for operation by the selection signal, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis parallel to an axis segment not intersected by the selected arc.
1. A computer aided design station for manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object, comprising: a display operably linked to the design station to display the three-dimensional scene including the at least one object; a three-dimensional icon displayed in the three-dimensional scene on the display, the three-dimensional icon including three perpendicular axis segments to cause translational movement of the at least one object, and three arcs to cause rotational movement of the at least one object, each arc extending from one of the perpendicular axis segments to another of the perpendicular axis segments, each arc extending between a different pair of the perpendicular axis segments; an input unit, operably linked to the design station, to receive in tandem a two-dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select part of the three-dimensional icon for operation; and a processor operably linked to the input unit to render, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the part of the three-dimensional icon, the following motion: if an axis segment is the part of the three-dimensional icon selected for operation by the selection signal, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected axis segment, and if an arc is the part of the three-dimensional icon selected for operation by the selection signal, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis parallel to an axis segment not intersected by the selected arc. 3. The computer aided design station of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional icon includes a designated area to anchor the three-dimensional icon to the at least one object.