Collaborative Navigation Improves Spatial Learning Across Symmetric and Asymmetric Locomotion in Virtual Reality

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality
• Spatial Cognition

Background:

• Multi-user virtual reality (VR) systems offer diverse locomotion methods.
• Coordination challenges arise when users employ different movement techniques.
• Understanding spatial knowledge acquisition in shared VR environments is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of symmetric versus asymmetric locomotion methods on spatial learning in multi-user VR.
• To compare the effectiveness of steering and teleportation locomotion on navigation performance and cybersickness.
• To assess how different locomotion pairings affect collaborative navigation and spatial awareness.

Main Methods:

• Dyads navigated a shared virtual maze using either identical (symmetric) or different (asymmetric) locomotion methods: steering and teleportation.
• Survey knowledge was assessed via direction and distance estimations between virtual objects.
• Cybersickness levels were monitored across different locomotion conditions.

Main Results:

• Collaborative navigation significantly improved survey knowledge compared to individual navigation.
• Teleportation locomotion resulted in lower angular error than steering, with no significant difference in distance error.
• Asymmetric locomotion did not lead to increased cybersickness compared to symmetric locomotion.
• No significant differences in navigation errors were observed between symmetric and asymmetric dyads.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative navigation in VR enhances users' spatial learning and environmental awareness.
• Asymmetric locomotion methods are viable for multi-user VR, offering improved accessibility without compromising user experience or increasing cybersickness.
• Findings support the integration of diverse locomotion options in VR to accommodate user needs and improve collaborative tasks.