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Improving 3D navigation techniques in multiscale environments: a cubemap-based approach

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Abstract

Navigation in virtual 3D environments, especially those with multiscale features, is still a problem for many users. In this regard, a good design of the navigation interfaces is critical to ensure that the users navigate with the best possible efficiency and comfort. In this paper, we present improvements for two well-known interfaces: fly, including support to collision treatment and automatic navigation speed adjustment in relation to scale, and examine, with automatic pivot point. Such techniques are based on the cubemap structure, which provides information about the surrounding environment at each instant. Usability tests with both beginner and advanced users revealed that the proposed techniques created a significant improvement in the execution of navigation tasks and a reduction in navigation errors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Petrobras for this research support and for the software used in this research (SiVIEP). D. Trindade thanks CAPES and A. Raposo, FAPERJ and CNPq for the individual support granted to this research.

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  1. Tecgraf/Department of Informatics, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Daniel Ribeiro Trindade & Alberto Barbosa Raposo

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  1. Daniel Ribeiro Trindade
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  2. Alberto Barbosa Raposo
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Correspondence to Alberto Barbosa Raposo.

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Trindade, D.R., Raposo, A.B. Improving 3D navigation techniques in multiscale environments: a cubemap-based approach. Multimed Tools Appl 73, 939–959 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-012-1127-8

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