Zero-gravity

recorded by MERPTV of Lone Echo

Using direct gestures such as pushing and pulling of the user’s environment in order to navigate through a zero-gravity environment.

Strengths:

A very natural and intuitive way to explore

Very immersive and unobtrusive to the experience

Weaknesses

A limited locomotion method that would only work for specific contexts

Can result in simulation sickness for some users

Skiing

recorded by vrgamecritic of Fancy Skiing VR

A direct gesture input for locomtion that simulates the movement and experience of skiing.

Strengths:

Natural, immersive and easy to learn

Reduces simulation sickness

Fairly efficient for navigating large environments

Weaknesses

A limited locomotion method that would only work for specific contexts

If drifting too fast and too long after a few pushes there is still a chance of experiencing simulation sickness

Cone drag

recorded by GDC of Google Earth VR

When using the locomotion method of pulling or dragging an avatar through space, cone dragging is a correction trick that moves users vertically in space based on where they’re pulling themselves towards, in order to avoid running into buildings or mountains.

Strengths:

Fast, efficient, and natural for covering great distances

Avoids running into buildings, mountains or other obstacles

Quick to learn for new users

Weaknesses

It can cause simulation sickness, which is why in this case it was used with a minimized field of view during movement

For More Info

See the full talk by Google’s Adam Glazier, Nadav Ashkenazi, and Per Karlsson on the UX design behind Google Earth VR at the 2017 VRDC session.