article

Navigational tools for desktop virtual environment interfaces

Authors:

M. D. McneillAuthors Info & Claims

Virtual Reality, Volume 7, Issue 3-4

Pages 131 - 139

Published: 01 June 2004 Publication History

Abstract

Desktop systems typically rely on a two-dimensional (2D) software interface and general purpose hardware (mouse, keyboard) for interaction with a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment. These interfaces must provide all the functionality required to navigate through and interact with the virtual environment, yet research into the usability aspects of the tools presented on these software interfaces indicates that the majority of users experience some degree of frustration when using them to perform even relatively simple tasks. This paper begins with a study of usability issues for interfaces to virtual environments on desktop systems, and details a series of experiments performed to evaluate the usability of a number of navigational tools. Participants were tested on the time taken to complete a number of navigational tasks with a series of interfaces presenting different navigational tools. The tools presented were a speed control function, a you-are-here (YAH) map, a function enabling the user to mark and teleport to any location within the presented environment, and an undo function. Results indicate that the visual presentation of navigational aids improves navigation performance, in terms of the time taken to complete tasks, and also improves user satisfaction with the desktop system.

References

[1]

Chittaro L, Scagnetto I (2001) Is semitransparency useful for navigating virtual environments? In: Proceedings of VRST'01: The 8th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, Alberta, Canada, November 2001.

Digital Library

[2]

Darken R, Allard T, Achille L (1998) Spatial orientation and wayfinding in large-scale virtual spaces. Presence 7(2):101-107.

Digital Library

[3]

Darken R, Sibert JL (1996) Navigating large virtual worlds. Int J Hum-Comput Interact 8(1):49-72.

Digital Library

[4]

Elvins TT, Nadeau DR, Schul R, Kirsh D (1998) Worldlets: 3D thumbnails for 3D browsing. In: Proceedings of CHI'98, Los Angeles, CA, April 1998.

Digital Library

[5]

Fencott C (1999) Towards a design methodology for virtual environments. In: Proceedings of the User Centred Design and Implementation of Virtual Environments Workshop, York, UK, September 1999.

[6]

Green M, Jacob R (1991) Software architectures and metaphors for non-WIMP user interfaces. Comp Graph 25(3):229-235.

Digital Library

[7]

Hand C (1997): A survey of 3D interaction techniques. Comp Graph For 16(5):269-281.

[8]

Herndon KP, Van Dam A, GleicherM(1994) The challenges of 3D interaction. In: Proceedings of SIGCHI 26(4):36-43.

Digital Library

[9]

Johnsgard T (1994) Fitt's law with a virtual reality glove and a mouse: effects of gain. In: Proceedings of Graphics Interface'94 Conference, Toronto, Canada, May 1994.

[10]

Jul S, Furnas, GW (1997) Navigation in electronic worlds. SIGCHI Bulletin 29(4):44-49.

Digital Library

[11]

Kaur K (1998) Designing virtual environments for usability. Dissertation, City University, London.

[12]

Kaur K, Sutcliffe A, Maiden N (1996) A theory of interaction in virtual environments. In: Proceedings of the 3rd UKVRSIG Conference, Leicester, UK, July 1996.

[13]

Kaur Deol K, Sutcliffe A, Maiden N (1999) A design advice tool presenting usability guidance for virtual environments. In: Proceedings of the User Centred Design and Implementation of Virtual Environments Workshop, York, UK, September 1999.

[14]

Kaur K, Sutcliffe A, Maiden N (1998) Improving interaction with virtual environments. In: Leevers DFA, Benest ID (eds) The 3D interface for the information worker. IEEE, London.

[15]

Marsh T, Wright P (1999) Co-operative evaluation of a desktop virtual reality system. In: Proceedings of the User Centred Design and Implementation of Virtual Environments Workshop, York, UK, September 1999.

[16]

Marsh T, Wright P (2000) Using cinematography conventions to inform the design and evaluation of virtual off-screen space. In: Proceedings of the AAAI 2000 Spring Symposium,''Smart Graphics", AAAI Press, Stanford, CA.

[17]

Marsh T, Smith, S (2000) Guiding user navigation in virtual environments using awareness of virtual off-screen space. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Guiding Users through Interactive Experiences: Usability Centred Design and Evaluation of Virtual 3D Environments, Paderborn, Germany, 13-14 April 2000.

[18]

Miller LD (1994) Metrics for usability standards in computing (MUSiC): a usability evaluation of the Rolls-Royce virtual reality for aero engine maintenance system, Masters Thesis, University College, London.

[19]

Mohageg M, Myers R, Marrin C, Kent J, Mott D, Isaacs P (1996) A user interface for accessing 3D content on the World Wide Web. In: Proceedings of CHI'96, ACM Press, New York.

[20]

Neale DC (1997) Factors influencing spatial awareness and orientation in desktop virtual environments. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, Alburquerque, NM, July 1997.

[21]

Nielsen J (1993) Usability engineering. Academic Press, New York.

[22]

Preece J, Rogers Y, Sharp H, Benyon D, Holland S, Carey T (1994) Human-computer interaction. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

[23]

Ruddle RA, Payne SJ, Jones DM (1997) Navigating buildings in ''desk-top" virtual environments: experimental investigations using extended navigational experience. J Exper Psych 3(2):143-159.

[24]

Ruddle RA, Payne SJ, Jones DM (1999) The effects of maps on navigation and search strategies in very-large-scale virtual environments. J Exper Psych 5(1):54-75.

[25]

Rushton S, Wann J (1993) Problems in perception and action in virtual worlds. In: Proceedings of Virtual Reality International '93, London, April 1993.

[26]

Sayers HM, Wilson S, McNeill MDJ, Scott TM (1999) Usability issues in collaborative virtual office applications. In: Proceedings of the Sixth UKVRSIG Conference, Salford University, UK, September 1999.

[27]

Sayers HM, Wilson S, Myles W, McNeill MDJ (2000) Usable interfaces for virtual environment applications on nonimmersive systems. Eurographics 2000, Interlaken, Switzerland, August 2000.

[28]

Smith S, Duke D, Wright P (1999) Using the resources model in virtual environment design. In: Proceedings of the Kings Manor Workshop, University of York, August 1999.

[29]

Stoackley R, Conway MJ, Pausch R (1995) Virtual reality on a WIM: interactive worlds in miniature. In: Proceedings of CHI'95, ACM Press, New York.

[30]

Tan DS, Robertson GG, Czerwinski M (2001) Exploring 3D navigation: combining speed-coupled flying with orbiting. In: Proceedings of CHI 2001 on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Seattle, WA, March-April 2001.

[31]

Thorndyke PW, Hayes-Roth B (1982) Differences in spatial knowledge acquired from maps and navigation. Cog Psych 14:560-589.

[32]

Vinson NG (1999) Design guidelines for landmarks to support navigation in virtual environments. In: Proceedings of CHI'99, ACM Press, New York.

[33]

Waller D, Hunt E, Knapp D (1998) The transfer of spatial knowledge in virtual environment training. Presence 7(2):129- 143.

Digital Library

[34]

Witmer B, Bailey J, Knerr B, Parsons K (1996) Virtual spaces and real world places: transfer of route knowledge. Int J Hum-Comp Stud 45:413-428.

Digital Library

Cited By

Khalid SUllah SAli NAlam ARasheed NFayaz MAhmad M(2021)The effect of combined aids on users performance in collaborative virtual environmentsMultimedia Tools and Applications10.1007/s11042-020-09953-980:6(9371-9391)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s11042-020-09953-9
Luo ZDuh H(2018)Effects of perspective elevation and environmental geometry on representation of a virtual room spaceVirtual Reality10.5555/3227226.322743013:1(27-35)Online publication date: 27-Dec-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3227226.3227430

Index Terms

Navigational tools for desktop virtual environment interfaces
1. Computing methodologies
  1. Computer graphics
    1. Graphics systems and interfaces
      1. Virtual reality
2. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)

Recommendations

Does immersion make a virtual environment more usable?
CHI EA '97: CHI '97 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Usability tests comparing three different virtual environment (VE) interface designs indicate that an immersive VE is more usable than two non-immersive VEs for a task with search and navigation components. Three interface designs were tried in a ...
Traversable interfaces between real and virtual worlds
CHI '00: Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Traversable interfaces establish the illusion that virtual and physical worlds are joined together and that users can physically cross from one to the other. Our design for a traversable interface combines work on tele-embodiment, mixed reality ...
Stepping off a ledge in an HMD-based immersive virtual environment
SAP '13: Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Applied Perception

We explore whether a gender-matched, calibrated self-avatar affects the perception of the affordance of stepping off of a ledge, or visual cliff, in an immersive virtual environment. Visual cliffs form demonstrations in many immersive virtual ...

Comments

Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality Volume 7, Issue 3-4

June 2004

93 pages

ISSN:1359-4338

EISSN:1434-9957

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Copyright © 2004 Springer-Verlag London Limited.

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg

Publication History

Published: 01 June 2004

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Article

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

2
Total Citations
View Citations
0
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)0
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0

Reflects downloads up to 14 Sep 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Khalid SUllah SAli NAlam ARasheed NFayaz MAhmad M(2021)The effect of combined aids on users performance in collaborative virtual environmentsMultimedia Tools and Applications10.1007/s11042-020-09953-980:6(9371-9391)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s11042-020-09953-9
Luo ZDuh H(2018)Effects of perspective elevation and environmental geometry on representation of a virtual room spaceVirtual Reality10.5555/3227226.322743013:1(27-35)Online publication date: 27-Dec-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3227226.3227430

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Issue’s Table of Contents