How not to run into a wall : A comparative experiment of Movement in Virtual Reality

Recent technical developments have resulted in the increased use of Virtual Reality and Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) for entertainment and industrial purposes (Bengtson, Borsos, & Krupenia, 2017). A persistent problem associated with the use of HMDs for VR is that when moving within a virtual environment, the user can experience motion sickness and disorientation resulting in reduced ease of use or efficiency. The purpose of the current research was to establish which movement-based design principle(s) is/are best suited for a virtual environment. Three movement techniques were implemented and tested; a fading teleport, a drag/floating movement, and a hybrid concept. Of interest were motion sickness, disorientation, ease of use, and efficiency. Results indicated that the fading teleport technique best supported ease of use and also reduced disorientation. Further investigation into the teleportation technique and how it can be further improved is suggested