The More, the Better? Improving VR Firefighting Training System with Realistic Firefighter Tools as Controllers

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality Training
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) controllers are crucial for user interaction in virtual environments.
• Understanding the impact of control device modality on user experience is essential for effective VR system design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between user experience and VR control device modality.
• To assess the influence of different control device types on perceived presence and cognitive load in a VR firefighting training system.

Main Methods:

• Developed a VR firefighting training system with four control devices adapted from real tools.
• Conducted a pilot study with six participants for iterative improvement.
• Performed a user study with 30 participants assessing perceived presence and cognitive load across three device conditions: standard VR controllers, real tools, and a hybrid approach.

Main Results:

• The study found that increased realism of control devices does not automatically lead to a superior user experience.
• No significant difference was found in perceived presence and cognitive load across the tested device modalities.

Conclusions:

• Strategic selection and combination of VR control device modalities are crucial for optimizing user experience in field-based VR simulations.
• Empirical insights are provided for developing effective VR training systems by considering appropriate control device configurations.