Bijay Panta

Abstract

In Virtual Reality (VR), a computer-generated environment for users to explore and interact with, controlling walking speed, defined as the stride length of a person, is crucial for minimizing extraneous variables in research. Despite the use of "guided walking techniques" that employ visual or auditory cues to prompt users towards a desired pace, there is a lack of rigorous evaluation regarding their effectiveness. This project aims to develop and systematically assess four novel techniques within the Unity3D game engine, using C# and employing a Finite State Machine to ensure a controlled experimental environment. These include a color-changing sphere, which visually indicates the user's distance to a target speed, and dynamic metronomes adjusted to match the desired walking tempo. By conducting user studies across diverse path shapes—square, circle, and figure-eight—the research seeks to identify the most effective technique for controlling walking speed while also minimizing cognitive load. This endeavor addresses a significant gap in VR research: although various techniques have been proposed, none have undergone thorough verification or comparative analysis. Anticipated outcomes suggest that dynamic sphere methods might offer superior results in speed control but could result in a slightly increased cognitive load for the user. The potential implications of this research are substantial, offering a path toward enhancing the accuracy and reliability of future VR studies by establishing validated best practices for guided walking speed control.