Sandscape and datascape: Augmenting the augmented reality sandbox

The tangible table paradigm is of great interest and utility to landscape architects, but their use is rare and often highly specialised. Here, we employ a cybernetics-informed perspective to analyse the input and output layers of this hybrid modelling mode and identify how it can become more flexible. These improvements informed the development of a piece of open-source software that integrates with contemporary augmented reality devices and established computational design methods. We present this integrative approach as essential to improving the accessibility and extensibility of tangible tables and to promoting their use as general-purpose 'tools for thought'.