November 28, 2017
Users taking part in VR experiences tend to rely on a head-mounted display, making it challenging for the person to navigate and walk-through the experience. With the addition of hand-gesture interaction, virtual reality experiences are becoming even more immersive.
Devices like joysticks and head orientation tracking are embedded into VR headsets and are used to help a person walk through the virtual world — but they’re not fully effective. There can be jolts to the view that are irregular and not only disrupt the experience but can also cause motion sickness for the user. The portal method is a technique that has been used to reduce motion sickness, allowing users to jump from one location to another. The movement isn’t natural, so it can also cause some disorientation.
Researchers have experimented with the simple double hand-gesture interaction method and have found it to be beneficial to users in a VR experience. It allows the user to be better immersed and comfortable without motion sickness. The hand gestures the researchers have created are natural, such as raising and opening their left hands in order to move avatars forward. By tracing the motions in the air, it helps combine the actions of movement and turning in VR and is more natural, and easier to learn than other VR navigation methods.
For More Information
Double hand-gesture interaction for walk-through in VR environment
Navigation or traveling (walk-through) is one of the basic and essential 3D interaction tasks in a VR environment.