An Investigation into Virtual Reality Navigation: Travel and Wayfinding in a Virtual Maze
Abstract
This paper explores several aspects of Virtual Reality (VR) navigation. Immersive travel techniques are studied as well as current research concerning wayfinding. Four immersive travel techniques have been designed and implemented. These are tested within a three dimensional Virtual Environment (VE) maze structure. Several aspects of navigation are examined, including ease of learning and use of the travel techniques, level of spatial awareness the techniques afford, as well as the degree of wayfinding the various travel techniques afford. Results of experimentation show that the HMD based technique is the most favoured technique due its inherent intuitiveness and stability leading to increased comfort, ease of use, spatial awareness and wayfinding affordances.
An Investigation into Virtual Reality Navigation; Travel and Wayfinding in a Virtual Maze
Josuah Vincent
Honours Thesis, Computer Science Department, Rhodes University, November 2000
