Real-walking models improve walking-in-place systems

Many Virtual Environment (VE) systems require a walking interface to travel through the virtual world. Real Walking- the preferred interface- is only feasible if the virtual world is smaller than the real-world tracked space. When the to-be-explored virtual world is larger than the real-world tracked space, Walking-In-Place (WIP) systems are frequently used: The user's in-place stepping gestures are measured and identified by the WIP system to move virtual viewpoint through the virtual world. When the system-generated forward motions do not match the user's intended motions, the user becomes frustrated and the VE experience degrades. This dissertation presents two real-walking-based models that enable WIP systems to generate walking-like speeds. Direction from in-place stepping gestures is not covered. The first model (GUD WIP) calculates in-place step frequency- even when only a portion of a step has been completed. The second (The Forward Walking Model) measures a user's step-frequency-to-walk-speed function in real-time from head-track-data alone. The two models combined enable per-user-calibrated real-walking-like speeds from in-place stepping gestures. This dissertation also presents validation studies for each model and a usability study that demonstrate that WIP systems that employ these models are better than a previous speed-focused WIP system.Doctor of Philosoph