Paper Reading - Towards a Bedder Future:A Study of Using Virtual Reality while Lying Down
Towards a Bedder Future: A Study of Using Virtual Reality while Lying Down
Author
Thomas van Gemert, Kasper Hornbæk, Jarrod Knibbe, Joanna Bergström, CHI 2023
Keywords
virtual reality, supine, bed, room-scale, lying down, movement, user experience
WHAT
developed a custom driver for SteamVR to transform the virtual coordinate space
3 topics about using VR in bed
how everyday movements become tricky when lying down
users can use the applications while lying down comfortably
discuss how the illusion of virtually standing up can lead to embodiment
WHY
staring at the ceiling or sky is typically not the most exciting part of the environment when lying down
breaking the mapping between their body’s pose in the real and virtual worlds
imposing significant movement restrictions compared to standing freely
HOW
Method
Relaxed think-aloud protocol
Semi-structured Interview
quality of the interaction (usability, utility, and emotional impact)
context of the user (user’s previous experience, physical position, and physical abilities)
higher-level reflection (the utility and appeal of the VR experience when lying down)
Applications
Participants
14 experienced VR users
11 males and 3 females, 31.8 ± 5.9 years old
Rotating the Virtual Coordinate Space
OpenVR Motion Compensation (OVRMC)
software offsets to align the center of the tracking space with the participant’s feet
Apparatus
Bed, mattres and pillow
a laptop for note-taking and three monitors to display the in-game view, an on-screen clock, and the OBS recording window
HTC Vive Pro headset with a modified head-strap, two HTC Vive Pro controllers, and four SteamVR 2.0 lighthouses
Procedure
welcome and explanation
2 warming-up exercises for the think-aloud protocol
lie down and put on the headset
start SteamVR Home, video and audio recording
10 minutes SSI
Analysis
thematic analysis framework as explained by Braun and Clarke
data familiarization
initial coding
created an initial loose grouping of codes
Research questions
What is the user experience of using VR while lying in bed?
How do users move, or want to move, when using VR in bed?
How can users interact with the virtual environment (e.g., locomotion, object manipulation)?
Results
“It’s just a lot of ab work!” — Common Movements are Surprisingly Hard in Bed
Leaning
Reaching
Crouching
Looking around
Translating
“If you’re moving so much, why not get up?” — The Challenge of Benefiting from Lying Down
Relaxing and being comfortable
Using the arms to interact
Expectations of movement
Avoiding VR sickness
“I forgot that I’m lying down” — Embodiment and the Illusion of Standing Up
Embodiment
Perception of the horizon
Discussion
Implications of Movement for Research and Design
We need interaction techniques to replace maneuvering when lying down
Future designs for VR while lying down should leverage the legs
Physical head rotations should be supported and augmented
Strenuous physical movements can be replaced with game mechanics
We need locomotion techniques for small, not just medium, distances
Implications of the Bed for Research and Design
Manage expectation ofcomfort versus effort
Expand the usable area of interaction for the arms
Explore the use ofVR for reclining and lying on other surfaces
Use locomotion techniques that do not cause VR sickness
How Do Haptic and Vestibular Sensations Influence Embodiment?
Use Cases of VR when Lying Down
You can, but do not want to move
You cannot move, but want to
You can and you want to move
You cannot move and do not want to