Spatial Orientation in Real and Virtual Worlds

Abstract

Virtual environments promise an almost limitless vista of expansion for human capabilities. They are being touted as the interface of the future and have begun to generate an expectation of a revolution in human-computer interaction greater than any seen to date. Like much hyperbole that cascades around innovative technology, little is based in knowledge while much is based on expectation or sheer speculation. In previous work, we have examined some of the basic human factors questions about usability. Here we specifically examine the ability to reproduce a complex spatial layout of objects having experienced them under a variety of viewing conditions. Subjects learned the spatial layout of nine common objects arranged on a flat plane. Viewing conditions consisted of free binocular virtual, free binocular real, and monocular real. The first two allowed active exploration of the environment while the latter condition allowed only a single viewpoint. The dependent variables were mapping accuracy and triadic comparisons of relative inter-object distances. Mapping results showed a significant effect of viewing condition, where in contrast to expectations the single eye was superior to the virtual and real binocular conditions. Results for the triadic comparisons showed a significant interaction of gender by viewing condition. The spatial representation formed by using virtual reality appears equivalent to that of the representation with the actual objects. The are a number of implications of these data with respect to interface design, in particular the question of potential information overload in virtual interfaces.