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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Stay In Place: Guiding players with Haptic Nudges in Virtual Reality

Authors

;

Term

4. term

Education

Publication year

2024

Submitted on

Pages

62

Abstract

Virtual reality lets people move freely while wearing a headset, but in small play areas they can drift toward walls or furniture and risk injury. To reduce this risk, we built a haptic "nudge": when a player approaches the edge of the defined play space, the controllers vibrate to warn them. We ran three tests that examined different aspects of play, including whether engagement and immersion affect awareness of surroundings and response to warnings. Initial results showed less-than-satisfactory reliability. In follow-up tests with clearer feedback, user responses indicated the approach is usable and that players want additional feedback during play. Overall, the study suggests that haptic nudges may help improve safety in small spaces, but reliability needs to be improved and feedback may need to be more noticeable.

Virtual reality lader brugere bevæge sig frit med et headset, men i små spilleområder kan man komme for tæt på vægge og møbler og dermed risikere skader. For at mindske denne risiko udviklede vi et haptisk "puf": Når spilleren nærmer sig kanten af det afmærkede område, vibrerer controllerne som en advarsel. Vi gennemførte tre tests, der hver undersøgte forskellige forhold under spillet, herunder om engagement og immersion påvirker opmærksomheden på omgivelserne og reaktionen på advarsler. De første resultater viste en utilfredsstillende pålidelighed. I opfølgende forsøg, hvor feedbacken blev gjort mere tydelig, pegede brugernes tilbagemeldinger på, at løsningen er anvendelig, og at spillerne ønsker yderligere feedback under spil. Samlet set antyder undersøgelsen, at haptiske nudges kan hjælpe med at forbedre sikkerheden i små rum, men at pålideligheden skal styrkes, og feedbacken skal være mere markant.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]