A Flexible Input Mapping System for Next-Generation Virtual Reality Controllers

Abstract

This paper proposes an input mapping system that can transform various input signals from next-generation virtual reality devices to suit existing virtual reality content. Existing interactions of virtual reality content are developed based on input values for standardized commercial haptic controllers. This prevents the challenge of new ideas in content. However, controllers that are not compatible with existing virtual reality content have to take significant risks until commercialization. The proposed system allows content developers to map streams of new input devices to standard input events for use in existing content. This allows the reuse of code from existing content, even with new devices, effectively reducing development tasks. Further, it is possible to define a new input method from the perspective of content instead of the sensing results of the input device, allowing for content-specific standardization in content-oriented industries such as games and virtual reality.