Rotational Self-motion Cues Improve Spatial Learning when Teleporting in Virtual Environments

What is it about?

Virtual reality (VR) allows the user to walk and turn to explore the virtual environment. However, real world space constraints, such as walls and furniture, prevent walking through large virtual environments, and seated users are often unable to physically turn. Teleporting has become a popular interface to overcome these constraints. To teleport, the user points to the intended location in the environment before being instantly transported to that location. In some teleporting interfaces, the user also selects their intended facing direction. This study found that teleporting to change position and facing direction leads to a less accurate cognitive map of the environment, compared to teleporting to change position but rotating the body to turn.

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Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Navigating to a remembered location, such as a restaurant in a city, requires a cognitive map of the remembered space. When a VR user is physically capable of turning their body, doing so will lead to more accurate cognitive map formation compared to teleporting to change their facing direction. VR designers should therefore recommend physical turning when possible.