Abstract
One of the problems associated with using virtual environments, for the purpose of training and/or assessment, is that the effect of navigational tools and related experience on performance is generally unknown. In this study, three separate types of navigational assistance were provided (1) a recommended path embedded in the environment, (2) the user’s trail embedded in the environment and (3) none (a control condition). Three levels of related experience were also considered: novice, intermediate, and advanced. The virtual environment task was a safety-hazard identification task in a virtual manufacturing facility – a task with both search and decision-making components. Both objective and subjective measures were employed; the objective measures were task time, task accuracy, and distance traveled within the environment, and the subjective measures were dimensions of workload, presence, and usability. Statistically significant differences were found between the navigation tools for task time, accuracy, and immersion (a dimension of presence). The results suggest that both the type of navigation tool and the level of experience influence performance.
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