Pointing Cursor Interaction in Virtual Reality from the Perspective of Distance Perception

Abstract

In virtual reality, the users cannot interact well or execute tasks efficiently, if the absolute distance is perceived incorrectly, or the pointing cursor is designed unreasonably. Drawing on the Fitts’ law extended for stereo pointing, this paper conducts interactive experiments on the pointing in virtual space. The variables involved in the experiments include type of cursor, absolute distance, object scale, and azimuth angle. A total of six assumptions were put forward: the perception precision of absolute distance and the object pointing velocity are influenced by type of cursor, absolute distance, object scale, and azimuth angle. Based on the experimental results, the object pointing precision and the object pointing duration were analyzed, followed by a discussion about the change law of the perception precision of absolute distance with the object pointing velocity. The experimental results show that, in the VR, both pointing cursor and object scale greatly affect perception precision of absolute distance, and object pointing velocity. The azimuth angle of object and absolute distance merely significantly affect object pointing velocity. The type of cursor and absolute distance exert a bidirectional interactive effect on the perception precision of absolute distance, and object pointing velocity. For the two types of pointing cursors, the object pointing duration has a positive correlation with the coefficient of difficulty, which is in line with the Fitts’ law extended for stereo pointing. The research discloses the factors affecting the perception of absolute distance, and guides the interaction and stereo pointing design of VR.