The effects of partial proxy embodiment on the awareness of linear distance in omnidirectional treadmill enabled immersive virtual environment

Abstract

The immersive virtual environment is a very powerful tool, but its applications are limited if the cognitive performance of the users cannot replicate the results achieved in the real environment. This empirical investigation assessed the awareness of linear dimension in the virtual environment through a commercial omnidirectional treadmill and head-mounted display (HMD). Half of the study participants were provided a first-person perspective using the HMD accompanying handsets visible in the virtual environment as proxy embodiment. Their competence was compared against the other half of the participants who were offered a third-person perspective, a non-embodied experience. Evaluations regarding exocentric verbal distance estimation and egocentric physical walk of an intended distance, for the two perceptual perspectives, were gauged against the performance in the real environment. The proficiency of verbal distance estimation between the virtual and the real environments was within the margin of error for the first-person perspective, but the results show that a considerable difference exists in the ability to walk linear distance. Nevertheless, the use of proxy embodiment can significantly reduce the egocentric walk disparity as compared to the non-embodied experience. These findings are expected to further the immersion efforts for precision directed applications such as construction safety training.

Keywords

• Virtual reality interfaces
• Omnidirectional treadmill
• Head-mounted displays
• Linear distance perception
• Digital twin
• Proxy embodiment