Use of Reference Frame and Movement Pattern in Haptically Enhanced 3D Virtual Environment

Abstract

For the present article a haptically enhanced 3D virtual environment was created, and this study investigates how visually impaired users perceive and explain the virtual space when haptic is the only input modality. The study investigates what factors affect the use of reference frame when the users verbally express a haptically constructed mental map and how such preference corresponds to their haptic movement in the virtual environment. In the study, gravity was the most influential cue in determining a vertical axis of a frame. When the users were asked to explain the relationship between themselves and the target object, they had the tendency to use the frame they initially chose to use. It was also noted that totally blind users were more responsive to various frames than users with lower vision and were faster in determining a term to explain spatial relationship. Furthermore, people who preferred relative frame were more likely to keep the haptic cursor closer to their body. Limited range of exploration caused lack of understanding of the space, whereas longer exploration time made them use more frames.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ja Young Lee

Ja Young Lee is currently a Ph.D. student at University of Wisconsin -- Madison, specializing in Human Factors and Ergonomics. She received an M.S. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University, where she studied haptic user interface design and affective engineering. Her research interest is in analyzing and modeling human cognition.

Sangwoo Bahn

Sangwoo Bahn is an assistant professor of Industrial and Management Engineering at Myongji University, Korea. He received his Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from Seoul National University, Korea, in 2010. His research interests include user interface design, affective engineering, and user modeling.

Chang S. Nam

Chang S. Nam is currently an associate professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University. He is also an associated faculty member in the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and Psychology Department. His primary research interests are brain–computer interface, neuroergonomics, rehabilitation engineering, and haptic user interfaces.