Strolling Through Cyberspace With Your Hands In Your Pockets: Head Directed Navigation In Virtual Environments

Abstract

Head-Directed Navigation is a simple and efficient method for navigatinglarge virtual spaces. For walkthrough applications such as architecturalvisualization or games, the user is often required to cover simulateddistances. In doing so, inexperienced users often have a hard timelearning complicated navigation patters with 3-D mice or similarinput devices. In large virtual worlds, this frequently leads todisorientation. With head directed navigation, the user navigatesthe virtual environment only by orienting his or her head. An orientationtracker mounted on the head-mounted display worn by the user is usedto derive the navigation commands. Besides the approach's simplicity,the user's hands are left free for other tasks.