Abstract
Much research has been carried out on providing navigational aids and improving users' wayfinding ability across a variety of navigation related tasks. In this study, we focus on investigating users' navigational performance with respect to the display frame of reference in a large scale virtual environment. Dynamic viewpoint tethering is proposed as a means to improve user control and reduce the need for mental rotations, thus facilitating the acquisition of configurational knowledge about the virtual space.
The modelling of dynamic viewpoint tethering is explained and recent research findings are presented. Twelve volunteers participated in an experiment in which they were instructed to control an aircraft-shaped cursor flying through a set of virtual tunnels (local guidance) and to answer questions about the environment (global awareness). Experimental results showed that neither the very loose dynamic tether nor the completely rigid tether supported the best control performance. Rather, an optimal tether configuration lies at the centre of the rigidity continuum. Research results are discussed from the point of view of design of navigational system interfaces.
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