Virtual Reality最新文献

Out-of-reach interaction in virtual reality has primarily relied on raycasting (selection using the laser pointer metaphor). However, as bare-hand tracking becomes increasingly prevalent, there is a growing need to explore and optimize hand-based out-of-reach interaction techniques. To address this, we introduce Hand Gliding and Laser Gliding, novel out-of-reach interaction techniques that use velocity-to-velocity mapping to control virtual hands through physical movements, and implement Go-Go and HOMER, position-to-position methods. First, a pilot study evaluated the feasibility of Hand Gliding. Next, we conducted a within-subject comparison of the four interaction techniques using selection and translation tasks while assessing speed, comfort, and subjective responses. The best results were achieved with both raycasting-aided techniques (HOMER, Laser Gliding) in terms of both performance and user comfort. Position-to-position mapping performed slightly better in tasks requiring rapid selection, while velocity-to-velocity techniques facilitated interaction at greater distances. The feasibility of velocity-to-velocity approaches to out-of-reach interaction was confirmed by this study. Due to their simple implementation (compared to position-based techniques, they do not require torso tracking data), velocity-based interaction methods have the potential for wide adoption in current VR systems.

Telepresence robots offer the promise of remote presence, but user experience, usability, and performance challenges hinder widespread adoption. This study introduces a novel and low-cost user interface for telepresence robots that integrates insights from virtual reality (VR) and robotics to address these limitations. The novel setup was designed holistically, considering several different factors: an inclined rotating chair for embodied rotation, a joystick for precise translation, dual displays for enhanced spatial awareness, and an immersive setup with controlled lighting and audio. A user study (N = 42) with a simulated robot in a virtual environment compared this novel setup with a standard setup, that mimicked the typical user interface of commercial telepresence robots. Results showed that this novel setup significantly improved the user experience, particularly increasing presence, enjoyment, and engagement. This novel setup also improved task performance over time, reducing obstacle collisions and distance traveled. These findings highlight the potential for combining and incorporating insights from VR and robotics to design more effective and user-friendly interfaces for telepresence robots, paving the way for increased adoption.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10055-025-01222-0.

Simulated environments, e.g., virtual or augmented reality environments, are becoming increasingly popular for the investigation and training of motor actions. Yet, so far it remains unclear if results of research and training in those environments transfer in the expected way to natural environments. Here, we investigated the types of visual cues that are required to ensure naturalistic hand movements in simulated environments. We compared obstacle avoidance of physical objects with obstacle avoidance of closely matched 2D and 3D images of the physical objects. Participants were asked to reach towards a target position without colliding with obstacles of varying height that were placed in the movement path. Using a pre-test post-test design, we tested obstacle avoidance for 2D and 3D images of obstacles both before and after exposure to the physical obstacles. Consistent with previous findings, we found that participants initially underestimated the magnitude differences between the obstacles, but after exposure to the physical obstacles avoidance performance for the 3D images became similar to performance for the physical obstacles. No such change was found for 2D images. Our findings highlight the importance of disparity cues for naturalistic motor actions in personal space. Furthermore, they suggest that the observed change in obstacle avoidance for 3D images resulted from a calibration of the disparity cues in the 3D images using an accurate estimate of the egocentric distance to the obstacles gained from the interaction with the physical obstacles.

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used as a teaching and learning tool, however scaling this technology is difficult due to technological and cost considerations. An alternative approach that helps to address these problems is VR-by-proxy, where teaching takes place within a VR environment that is controlled by one lecturer and broadcast to students online. This allows the content to be accessed without specialist equipment while still offering an immersive and interactive experience. Taking advantage of the enforced move to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study evaluates the implementation of a novel VR-by-proxy disease diagnostic laboratory VR simulation within an undergraduate life sciences course in a higher education setting. Student participants were randomly allocated into two groups: the test group, who took part in a VR-by-proxy lesson; and a control group, who worked with interactive online lab manual material. We assessed improvement in learning and enjoyment through questionnaires before and after these tasks and collected qualitative data on student attitudes towards VR through focus groups. Our results indicate that although there is no observable difference in learning outcomes between the two groups, students in the test group reported an improved learning experience, confidence and enjoyment of learning. In our focus groups, confidence was understood in two ways by participants: firstly, as 'understanding' of the various steps involved in conducting a quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiment and secondly as a more general 'familiarity' with the laboratory setting. This study adds to the growing body of research into the effectiveness of VR for learning and teaching, highlighting that VR-by-proxy may provide many of the same benefits.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10055-025-01106-3.

The advancements in the field of XR devices and systems are interesting from an industrial point of view, as they present new opportunities for improving productivity and operations through-smart tooling, digitally enhanced assembly and maintenance, inspection, remote collaborations, etc. Typically, the XR headsets claim to provide a full 6-DoF tracking, while this may be good enough for consumer or entertainment applications; for an industrial application, we need to determine the exact errors and tolerances of the tracking for practical applications. In this paper, we present our methods and critical measurements from evaluating HTC Vive XR Elite and Magic Leap 2 for full 6-DoF tracking, depth perception accuracy, and drift accumulation over time. Through these tests, we measured a significant difference between individual XR devices' tracking accuracy, depth perception, and drifts, which could range from moderate to severe impact for the on-job deployment of these devices. By systematically analyzing error margins and tracking fidelity, this study aims to provide new valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of tracking capabilities of these XR devices, and the methodology which can be adopted to evaluate others. Further, this study could also help design AR symbology and user experience for an industrial application.

Introduction: Virtual reality environments presented through head mounted displays (HMDs) hold promise for training or studying mobility activities, such as cycling, walking, and street crossing. Yet, the limited field of view (FoV) of HMDs may influence scanning behaviour, reducing the translatability of findings to real-life situations. This study aims to (i) investigate how a reduced FoV influences scanning behaviour during mobility activities, and (ii) whether these alterations in scanning vary across these activities.

Method: Sixteen participants performed a real-life walking, cycling and street crossing activity twice; once with and once without a reduced FoV. A mobile eye-tracker with a built in gyroscope recorded scanning behaviour. Scanning behaviour was evaluated in terms of saccadic frequency and amplitude, horizontal head movement frequency and amplitude, and the horizontal and vertical eye position.

Results: The participants performed more horizontal head movements with larger amplitudes during the reduced FoV compared to the normal FoV. Additionally, they distributed their horizontal eye position more towards the central regions and less towards their peripheral regions. Overall, the range of both horizontal and vertical eye position decreased. The impact of the reduced FoV on horizontal head movement amplitude, horizontal eye position, and vertical eye position varied across activities.

Conclusion: Generally, individuals seem to compensate for a reduced FoV by making more horizontal head movements with large amplitudes, while reducing the eye position distribution. Consequently, caution is advised when translating outcomes on scanning behaviour observed in HMDs to those expected in real-life situations.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10055-025-01125-0.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures that can cause a wide range of symptoms. Stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) is a diagnostic procedure where multiple electrodes are stereotactically implanted within predefined brain regions to identify the seizure onset zone, which needs to be surgically removed or disconnected to achieve remission of focal epilepsy. This procedure is complex and challenging due to two main reasons. First, as electrode placement requires good accuracy in desired brain regions, excellent knowledge and understanding of the 3D brain anatomy is required. Second, as typically multiple SEEG electrodes need to be implanted, the positioning of intracerebral electrodes must avoid critical structures (e.g., blood vessels) to ensure patient safety. Traditional SEEG surgical planning relies on 2D display of multi-contrast volumetric medical imaging data, and places a high cognitive demand for surgeons' spatial understanding, resulting in potentially sub-optimal surgical plans and extensive planning time (~ 15 min per electrode). In contrast, virtual reality (VR) presents an intuitive and immersive approach that can offer more intuitive visualization of 3D data as well as potentially enhanced efficiency for neurosurgical planning. Unfortunately, existing VR systems for SEEG surgery only focus on the visualization of post-surgical scans to confirm electrode placement. To address the need, we introduce the first VR system for SEEG planning that integrates user-friendly and efficient visualization and interaction strategies while providing real-time feedback metrics, including distances to nearest blood vessels, angles of insertion, and the overall surgical quality scores. The system reduces the surgical planning time by 91%.

Peripheral visual field deficits developed through glaucoma have been shown to contribute to balance deficits and a fear of falling. Currently, there is no work that examines the relationship between fear of falling and quiet stance among glaucoma patients. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of a virtual height-induced postural threat on balance control among healthy individuals exposed to a simulated glaucoma impairment. Participants stood on a force plate to measure kinetic responses while wearing a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) which also tracked head position. Surface electromyography (EMG) was also used to measure muscle activity from ankle stabilizing muscles. Trials were 60 s, with two at ground level and two at 7 virtual meters above ground, each exposing participants to normal vision and a VR-simulated glaucoma impairment. Electrodermal activity was collected, and questionnaires were completed following each trial to evaluate psychological aspects of the postural threat. Overall, while experiencing height-induced fear with normal vision, participants developed a tighter control of upright stance (decreased amplitude and increased frequency of balance-related movement); however, this was not observed for the simulated glaucoma conditions. Therefore, balance deficits among glaucoma patients may be mediated by fear of falling contributing to an unexpected postural strategy.

The application of advanced embodied technologies, particularly virtual reality (VR), has been suggested as a means to induce the full-body illusion (FBI). This technology is employed to modify different facets of bodily self-consciousness, which involves the sense of inhabiting a physical form, and is influenced by cognitive inputs, affective factors like body dissatisfaction, individual personality traits and suggestibility. Specifically, VR-based Mirror Exposure Therapies are used for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aims to investigate whether the “Big Five” personality dimensions, suggestibility, body dissatisfaction and/or body mass index can act as predictors for FBI, either directly or acting as a mediator, in young women of similar gender and age as most patients with AN. The FBI of 156 healthy young women immersed in VR environment was induced through visuomotor and visuo-tactile stimulations, and then assessed using the Avatar Embodiment Questionnaire, comprising four dimensions: Appearance, Ownership, Response, and Multi-Sensory. Data analysis encompassed multiple linear regressions and SPSS PROCESS macro’s mediation model. The findings revealed that the “Big Five” personality dimensions did not directly predict FBI in healthy young women, but Openness to experience, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism exerted an indirect influence on some FBI components through the mediation of suggestibility.