Nearmi: A Framework for Designing Point of Interest Techniques for VR Users with Limited Mobility

PubDate: October 2021

Teams: microsoft

Writers: Rachel Franz Sasa Junuzovic Martez Mott

PDF: Nearmi: A Framework for Designing Point of Interest Techniques for VR Users with Limited Mobility

Abstract

We propose Nearmi, a framework that enables designers to create customizable and accessible point-of-interest (POI) techniques in virtual reality (VR) for people with limited mobility. Designers can use Nearmi by creating and combining instances of its four components—representation, display, selection, and transition. These components enable users to gain awareness of POIs in virtual environments, and automatically re-orient the virtual camera toward a selected POI. We conducted a video elicitation study where 17 participants with limited mobility provided feedback on different Nearmi implementations. Although participants generally weighed the same design considerations when discussing their preferences, their choices reflected tradeoffs in accessibility, realism, spatial awareness, comfort, and familiarity with the interaction. Our findings highlight the need for accessible and customizable VR interaction techniques, as well as design considerations for building and evaluating these techniques.