“SkiWalkerVR: Towards Naturalistic Virtual Walking Using Hand Movements and Foot Vibrations”
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- SkiWalkerVR: Towards Naturalistic Virtual Walking Using Hand Movements and Foot Vibrations
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Description:
Developing immersive Virtual Reality (VR) systems that simulate natural walking experiences in constrained physical spaces remains a challenge. This paper introduces SkiWalkerVR, a novel VR walking system that predicts and replicates head and foot movements based on user-specific hand gestures, creating a naturalistic walking illusion while the user remains otherwise stationary. By integrating synchronized foot vibrations, SkiWalkerVR enhances sensory feedback, increasing the realism of virtual locomotion. We discuss the system’s design, implementation, and possible applications, which may include VR walking with improved immersion and reduced motion sickness compared to traditional VR walking methods.
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