Abstract:
This paper presents a method for measuring the magnitude and impact of errors
in mixed reality interactions. We define the errors as measurements of hand
placement accuracy and consistency within bimanual movement of an interactive
virtual object. First, a study is presented which illustrates the amount of
variability between the hands and the mean distance of the hands from the
surfaces of a common virtual object. The results allow a discussion of the
most significant factors which should be considered in the frame of
developing realistic mixed reality interaction systems. The degree of error
was found to be independent of interaction speed, whilst the size of virtual
object and the position of the hands are significant. Second, a further study
illustrates how perceptible these errors are to a third person viewer of the
interaction (e.g. an audience member). We found that interaction errors
arising from the overestimation of an object surface affected the visual
credibility for the viewer considerably more than an underestimation of the
object. This work is presented within the application of a real-time
Interactive Virtual Television Studio, which offers convincing real-time
interaction for live TV production. We believe the results and methodology
presented here could also be applied for designing, implementing and
assessing interaction quality in many other Mixed Reality applications.