Estimation of virtually perceived distance

Increasingly, information is presented to users in a spatial domain where distances and orientation between objects imply some meaning. One's perception of distances between objects may be influenced by actual movement through space. Distances may be represented by visual, tactual, or auditory means. The current paper considers the relationship between the judgment of linear path distances which were presented either tactually, visually, or visually and tactually to subjects. Tactual paths were virtually created using force feedback fields. Additionally, the influence was examined of a constant simulated-friction force in terms of distance judgments. Based on the method of direct estimation ofmagnitude, a high correlation between tactual and visual estimates for eight path lengths was found. The results of the tactual condition with simulated friction indicated that the perceived distance between tactual objects can be manipulated without requiring longer movements of an input device. In general, results indicated that the spatial relations between objects can be accurately communicated by virtual tactual paths, which allows for the creation of dynamic spatial relations between user-interface elements