Study overview:
The purpose of this study is to learn about how people navigate in virtual reality (VR) using different navigation interfaces. We hope to learn which interfaces are easiest to use, and whether this depends on characteristics of the virtual environment. Furthermore, individuals differ in their spatial ability and sense of direction, and we hope to understand whether those individual differences affect navigation. You will be asked to perform a navigation task in virtual reality. You will travel along a path through the virtual environment before pointing to previously visited locations, such as the location of the beginning of the path. You will travel by teleporting (teleporting involves pointing a virtual laser pointer at your desired location, after which you will appear at that location). During the study, you will be asked to remember your path and report on where you’ve been. At the end of the study, your data will be automatically sent to a server at Iowa State University. You will be asked to answer demographic information, and questionnaires about your sense of direction and video game experience. The total duration of the study is about 1 hour. You will be compensated $10 for completion of the study.
Study Instructions:
- Important You must complete the Screener and Informed Consent document before continuing on to the next step. Please respond to the informed consent document here: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55S1WTinIYS4qa2
- If you agree to the informed consent document, you will be given a unique ID number directed to a website where you can install the VR app on your VR capable PC. Please write down your assigned ID number
- Clear a 10 ft x 10 ft space of obstacles and launch the application on your VR device. Make sure your controllers are charged and you are connected to WiFi.
- You will be prompted to enter your unique ID number assigned at the end of the informed consent questionnaire. The first scene you will encounter in VR will ask for this ID, as seen below.
- You will be asked to perform a triangle completion task using one of two different teleporting methods. (See VR Task Description below)
- Before performing the experimental trials, you will be allowed to practice the task and get used to teleporting. You may practice this task as many times as you want before beginning the experiment
- Once you begin the experiment, you will perform 48 trials of the triangle completion task. You may take a break at any time between trials.
- Once all trials are finished, please complete the post-study Questionnaire using this link: http://bit.ly/PostTeleportSurvey
VR Task Description:
a. At the beginning of the task, a green cylindrical post will appear marking the path origin. You will teleport to this post.
b. Once you have reached the green post, it will disappear, and a yellow post will appear. Teleport to the yellow post.
c. Once you reach the yellow post, it will disappear, and a red post will appear. Teleport to the red post.
d. Once you reach the red post, it will disappear. Hold the index finger trigger on your controller and point to the ground where you believe the green post (path origin) was located for this trial. Release the trigger to submit your response.
Teleporting Conditions:
You will be randomly assigned to use one of two teleporting methods:
a. Partially Concordant Teleporting – For this method, you will press and hold the thumb pad or thumb stick on your controller and point to where you want to go. Releasing the thumb pad/stick will teleport you to that location. Change your rotation angle by moving your feet and rotating your body.
b. Discordant Teleporting – For this method, you will press and hold the thumb pad or thumb stick on your controller and point to where you want to go while rotating your thumb to choose where you will be facing when you teleport. Release your thumb to teleport to that location. Refrain from moving your feet to change your rotation angle.
Contact
For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Jonathan Kelly, jonkelly@iastate.edu, (515) 294-2322.