Experimental Evaluation of the Cognitive Effects of Travel Technique in Immersive Virtual Environments

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Suma, E. (2010). Experimental Evaluation of the Cognitive Effects of Travel Technique in Immersive Virtual Environments. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Navigation is one of the most common and universal interaction tasks performed with 3D user interfaces, and different travel techniques can have a strong influence on a user's exploration and overall experience of a virtual environment. Real walking is considered to be the most natural technique since it mirrors the way most people move about in the real world. However, due to practical limitations, virtual travel techniques are more commonly used in virtual reality applications. Although recent advantages in tracking technology have made real walking viable for many applications, the benefits and drawbacks of this technique are not well understood, particularly in relation to human cognition.To investigate the cognitive effects of real walking, a series of three user studies were conducted to experimentally evaluate common travel techniques for immersive virtual environments using head-mounted displays. In general, these studies have identified criteria where real walking provides notable benefits, and conversely they have demonstrated that virtual travel techniques can be used as less expensive substitutes under the right conditions. Based on the results of these studies, guidelines were developed to outline the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques with respect to the particular goals of the virtual environment. Developers of future virtual reality applications may use these guidelines to weigh the benefits of using a certain travel technique against potential drawbacks or practical limitations.

Details
Author

Suma, Evan

Title

Experimental Evaluation of the Cognitive Effects of Travel Technique in Immersive Virtual Environments

Physical Description

1 online resource (153 pages) : PDF

Date

2010

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Navigation is one of the most common and universal interaction tasks performed with 3D user interfaces, and different travel techniques can have a strong influence on a user's exploration and overall experience of a virtual environment. Real walking is considered to be the most natural technique since it mirrors the way most people move about in the real world. However, due to practical limitations, virtual travel techniques are more commonly used in virtual reality applications. Although recent advantages in tracking technology have made real walking viable for many applications, the benefits and drawbacks of this technique are not well understood, particularly in relation to human cognition.To investigate the cognitive effects of real walking, a series of three user studies were conducted to experimentally evaluate common travel techniques for immersive virtual environments using head-mounted displays. In general, these studies have identified criteria where real walking provides notable benefits, and conversely they have demonstrated that virtual travel techniques can be used as less expensive substitutes under the right conditions. Based on the results of these studies, guidelines were developed to outline the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques with respect to the particular goals of the virtual environment. Developers of future virtual reality applications may use these guidelines to weigh the benefits of using a certain travel technique against potential drawbacks or practical limitations.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Computer science

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Cognition
Locomotion
Real Walking
Travel
Virtual Environments
Virtual Reality

Subject Area

Information Technology

Advisor(s)

Hodges, Larry

Committee Members

Ribarsky, William
Lipford, Heather
Wartell, Zachary
Barnes, Tiffany
Goolkasian, Paula

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2010.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Suma_uncc_0694D_10097

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1100