Group WiM: A Group Navigation Technique for Collaborative Virtual Reality Environments

Chheang, Vuthea; Heinrich, Florian; Joeres, Fabian; Saalfeld, Patrick; Preim, Bernhard; Hansen, Christian

doi:10.1109/VRW55335.2022.00129

by Vuthea Chheang, Florian Heinrich, Fabian Joeres, Patrick Saalfeld, Bernhard Preim, Christian Hansen

Abstract:

In this work, we present a group World-in-Miniature (WiM) navigation technique that allows a guide to navigate a team in collaborative virtual reality (VR) environments. We evaluated the usability, discomfort, and user performance of the proposed technique compared to state-of-the-art group teleportation in a user study \$\textbackslashleft(n\textbackslash,=\textbackslash,21\textbackslashright)\$. The results show that the proposed technique induces less discomfort for the guide and has slight usability advantages. Additionally, the group WiM technique seems superior in regards to task completion time for obstructed target destination. However, it performs similarly to the group teleportation technique in direct line of sight cases. The group WiM technique provides potential benefits for effective group navigation in complex virtual environments and harder-to-reach target locations.

Reference:

Group WiM: A Group Navigation Technique for Collaborative Virtual Reality Environments (Vuthea Chheang, Florian Heinrich, Fabian Joeres, Patrick Saalfeld, Bernhard Preim, Christian Hansen), In 2022 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), 2022.

Bibtex Entry:

@inproceedings{chheang_group_2022,
	address = {Christchurch, New Zealand},
	title = {Group {WiM}: {A} {Group} {Navigation} {Technique} for {Collaborative} {Virtual} {Reality} {Environments}},
	doi = {10.1109/VRW55335.2022.00129},
	abstract = {In this work, we present a group World-in-Miniature (WiM) navigation technique that allows a guide to navigate a team in collaborative virtual reality (VR) environments. We evaluated the usability, discomfort, and user performance of the proposed technique compared to state-of-the-art group teleportation in a user study \${\textbackslash}left(n{\textbackslash},={\textbackslash},21{\textbackslash}right)\$. The results show that the proposed technique induces less discomfort for the guide and has slight usability advantages. Additionally, the group WiM technique seems superior in regards to task completion time for obstructed target destination. However, it performs similarly to the group teleportation technique in direct line of sight cases. The group WiM technique provides potential benefits for effective group navigation in complex virtual environments and harder-to-reach target locations.},
	booktitle = {2022 {IEEE} {Conference} on {Virtual} {Reality} and 3D {User} {Interfaces} ({VR})},
	author = {Chheang, Vuthea and Heinrich, Florian and Joeres, Fabian and Saalfeld, Patrick and Preim, Bernhard and Hansen, Christian},
	month = mar,
	year = {2022},
	pages = {556--557}
}