Performance and user preference of various functions for mapping hand position to movement velocity in a virtual environment

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different hand-position-to-velocity mapping functions on user performance and preference for freehand gesture navigation in a virtual environment. Three parameters of the velocity mapping function were evaluated: hand position to velocity slope, linearity and size of the zero-velocity area around the resting hand position (e.g., dead zone). 16 subjects completed a forward movement task in a virtual environment with different distances and sizes of target-destinations. Time to complete the tasks was significantly influenced by velocity slope and linearity. Subjective usability ratings were influenced by all three parameters. When optimized, free-hand gestures provide a functional form of human-computer interaction in a virtual environment.