Sensitivity to Redirected Walking Considering Gaze, Posture, and Luminance.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Redirected walking (RDW) is a technique to extend virtual reality (VR) experiences within limited physical spaces.
• Understanding the physiological responses to RDW is crucial for designing comfortable and immersive VR systems.
• User posture and gaze provide key indicators of physiological responses during locomotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlations between redirected walking (RDW) rotation gains and users' posture and gaze data.
• To determine how factors like redirection gain, trial duration, and user characteristics influence physiological signals during VR locomotion.
• To assess the impact of virtual lighting conditions on RDW sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a psychophysical experiment measuring user sensitivity to RDW rotation gains.
• Collected detailed posture and gaze data during virtual reality locomotion.
• Employed multilevel modeling to analyze the effects of RDW gain, trial duration, trial number, and participant gender on physiological signals (postural sway, gaze velocity, saccade/blink rate).
• Compared RDW detection thresholds under photopic (well-lit) and mesopic (dimly-lit) virtual conditions.

Main Results:

• Physiological signals generally showed a significant positive correlation with redirection gain strength, trial duration, and trial number.
• Gaze velocity exhibited a negative correlation with trial duration.
• No significant differences in RDW detection thresholds were found between photopic and mesopic lighting conditions.

Conclusions:

• User physiological responses during VR locomotion are significantly influenced by RDW parameters and time spent in VR.
• RDW gain and duration are key factors affecting postural sway and gaze patterns.
• Virtual lighting conditions do not appear to significantly alter the detection of RDW rotation gains.