Sensitivity to Hand Offsets and Related Behavior in Virtual Environments over Time

Abstract

This work explored how users’ sensitivity to offsets in their avatars’ virtual hands changes as they gain exposure to virtual reality. We conducted an experiment using a two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) design over the course of 4 weeks, split into four sessions. The trials in each session had a variety of eight offset distances paired with eight offset directions (across a two-dimensional plane). While we did not find evidence that users became more sensitive to the offsets over time, we did find evidence of behavioral changes. Specifically, participants’ head–hand coordination and completion time varied significantly as the sessions went on. We discuss the implications of both results and how they could influence our understanding of long-term calibration for perception-action coordination in virtual environments.