Handsfree Omnidirectional VR Navigation using Head Tilt

Handsfree Omnidirectional VR Navigation using Head Tilt
Sam Tregillus, Majed Al Zayer, Eelke Folmer
CHI '17: ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Session: Experiences with Virtual Reality
Abstract
Navigating mobile virtual reality (VR) is a challenge due to limited input options and/or a requirement for handsfree interaction. Walking-in-place (WIP) is considered to offer a higher presence than controller input but only allows unidirectional navigation in the direction of the user's gaze--which impedes navigation efficiency. Leaning input enables omnidirectional navigation but currently relies on bulky controllers, which aren't feasible in mobile VR contexts. This note evaluates the use of head-tilt - implemented using inertial sensing - to allow for handsfree omnidirectional VR navigation on mobile VR platforms. A user study with 24 subjects compared three input methods using an obstacle avoidance navigation task: (1) head-tilt alone (TILT) (2) a hybrid method (WIP-TILT) that uses head tilting for direction and WIP to control speed; and (3) traditional controller input. TILT was significantly faster than WIP-TILT and joystick input, while WIP-TILT and TILT offered the highest presence. There was no difference in cybersickness between input methods.
DOI:: dx.doi.org/10.1...
WEB:: chi2017.acm.org/
Recorded at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Denver, CO, USA May 6-11, 2017

[@stickygumshoes]

Are there any VR driving games that use head tilt steering? Anyone know?