"Lend Me a Hand" – Extending the Reach of Seated VR Players in Unmodified Games Through Remote Co-Piloting

Abstract

Playing virtual reality (VR) games while seated can be challenging because many games are designed for a mobile, standing player. Sitting down not only limits mobility but also the reach of the player. This is particularly problematic if the player does not have a choice in whether they play seated or standing because it then becomes an accessibility issue. We have taken the concept of co-piloting (controls shared across multiple input devices and players) and applied it to VR with the aim of extending the reach of the VR player. To demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, a software prototype was developed that allowed a second, remote, player to take over the VR player’s controllers and help them reach out. Because the prototype manipulates the SteamVR middleware and not the game, it can be used with any application that runs on SteamVR. A small formative study was conducted to inform further research and proof the concept.