Hand-Controller Latency and Aiming Accuracy in 6-DOF VR

All virtual reality (VR) systems have some inherent hand-controller latency even when operated locally. In remotely rendered VR, additional latency may be added due to the remote transmission of data, commonly conducted through shared low-capacity channels. Increased latency will negatively affect the performance of the human VR operator, but the level of detriment depends on the given task. This work quantifies the relations between aiming accuracy and hand-controller latency, virtual target speed, and the predictability of the target motion. The tested context involves a target that changes direction multiple times while moving in straight lines. The main conclusions are, given the tested context, first, that the predictability of target motion becomes significantly more important as latency and target speed increase. A significant difference in accuracy is generally observed at latencies beyond approximately 130 ms and at target speeds beyond approximately 3.5°/s. Second, latency starts to significantly impact accuracy at roughly 90 ms and approximately 3.5°/s if the target motion cannot be predicted. If it can, the numbers are approximately 130 ms and 12.7°/s. Finally, reaction times are on average 190–200 ms when the target motion changes to a new and unpredictable direction.