recorded by GDC of Google Earth VR
A method of flying where the user’s virtual size is constantly being scaled based on where the floor is beneath them. This allows users to feel constantly grounded so they can walk around via room-scale locomotion whenever they want.
Strengths:
Works very naturally and seamlessly with room-scale locomotion
Because it can be paired with room-scale locomotion, it’s perfect exploration in small and large increments
Because users are grounded this minimizes the risks of acrophobia
Maintains the most immersion and context unlike other methods of locomotion like teleportation
Weaknesses
Just like most methods of artificial locomotion, it can cause simulation sickness, which is why in this case it was used with a minimized field of view during movement
Requires the constant scaling of the user virtually which makes it not suitable for all contexts
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.