VR locomotion: walking > walking in place > arm swinging

Abstract

There are many methods of exploring an HMD-based virtual environment such as using a game controller, physically walking, walking in place, teleporting, flying, leaning, etc. The purpose of this work is to introduce a simple method of implementing "walking in place" using a simple inexpensive accelerometer sensor. We then evaluate this method of walking in place by comparing it to normal walking and another previously published inexpensive method of exploration, arm swinging. In an experiment that compares the spatial awareness, we show that walking in place is not as good as walking on foot, but it is is better than arm swinging. Subjects also complete blind locomotion distance estimation trials in each of the locomotion conditions.