Titulo Estágio
Feet Are Not Just For Walking: Mapping Feet Interactions Virtual Reality
Local do Estágio
DEI
Enquadramento
Interaction in Virtual Reality (VR) systems is most often accomplished through standard controller devices. However, considering other forms of input is important in order to study alternative solutions for situations where standard controllers cannot be used or simply because we may want to provide a different user experience. For example, Müller et al. [1] considered using foot-taps as a form of direct and indirect interaction in VR. Feet interactions could have a high potential for smartphone mobile VR where controllers are not always available. Müller et al. [1] considered only feet interactions with semi-circular menus. Other possibilities for foot interaction beyond locomotion are possible, for example: using feet to point to objects inside the 3D environment, using feet to control knobs and sliders, using feet to kick or touch moving 3D objects (e.g., in games), etc.
Objetivo
In this project, we wish to map the design space of feet interaction in VR settings and evaluate some of the identified possibilities. The proposed general approach to this project is an iterative, prototype-based approach with the involvement of users in various exploratory sessions. More specifically, the objectives are:
1. Map the design space of feet interaction in VR (characterize the interaction modality in various dimensions of design)
2. Produce and document several feet interaction prototypes (varying in purpose - prototype role, look and feel, implementation - and fidelity - from sketches to functional prototypes)
3. Evaluate the prototypes through user sessions. Evaluations should focus on usability and user experience.
Implementation of software is not the main focus of this work, however some functional prototypes will have to be implemented. In order to facilitate the implementation work, the student’s is advised to use the Web-based A-Frame [1] VR framework and the HTC Vive tracked controllers for easy foot detection.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
- Study the feet interaction in HCI, beyond VR - In Desktop, Augmented Reality, Mixed-Reality, Art installations, etc.
- Study approaches for user involvement in interaction design -- from ideation to evaluation
- Study publications with examples of design spaces in HCI
- Develop an initial design map for feet interaction
- Perform a first ideation session
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
- Implement prototypes for user session #1
- Run user session #1
- Implement functional prototypes for user session #2
- Run user session #2
- Write the results as a scientific publication and dissertation
Condições
- Access to the Virtual Reality equipment HTC Vive
Observações
Required student profile
Passion for HCI/interaction design
References
[1] Müller, F., McManus, J., Günther, S., Schmitz, M., Mühlhäuser, M., & Funk, M. (2019). Mind the Tap. In Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’19 (pp. 1–13). New York, New York, USA: ACM Press. https://doi.org/10.1145/3290605.3300707
[2] Smith, J., & MacLean, K. (2007). Communicating emotion through a haptic link: Design space and methodology. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 65(4), 376–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2006.11.006
[3] Döring, T., Sylvester, A., & Schmidt, A. (2013). A design space for ephemeral user interfaces. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction - TEI ’13 (p. 75). New York, New York, USA: ACM Press. https://doi.org/10.1145/2460625.2460637
[4] A-Frame. https://aframe.io/
Orientador
Jorge C. S. Cardoso
jorgecardoso@dei.uc.pt 📩