Exploration of Bare-Hand Mid-Air Pointing Selection Techniques for Dense Virtual Reality Environments

Target selection in dense virtual reality (VR) environments is challenging. Prior work has explored different controller-based raycasting techniques to assist target selection in such environments. However, limited research has focused on selection via mid-air barehand, which represents another major input metaphor for immersive environments. In this paper, we first review the existing raycasting selection techniques for dense VR environments. Based on this, we propose and develop two freehand pointing selection techniques—HandDepthCursor and HandConeGrid, and implement MultiFingerBubble, a recently-proposed technique. We then conduct a user study to compare and evaluate their performance and experience in a target selection task in dense VR environments. Our results suggest that HandDepthCursor and HandConeGrid led to significantly faster and more accurate selection performance, and lower perceived workload and arm fatigue. In addition, HandConeGrid showed a distinct advantage in high-density environments.