Exploring Seated Locomotion Techniques in Virtual Reality for People with Limited Mobility

Information

• Publication Type: Conference Paper
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s):
  • Advanced Computational Design
• Date: 2025
• ISBN: 978-989-758-728-3
• Publisher: SciTePress
• Location: Porto
• Lecturer: Marlene Huber
• Event: 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications
• Booktitle: Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - GRAPP
• Pages: 13
• Volume: 1
• Conference date: 26. February 2025 – 28. February 2025
• Pages: 161 – 173
• Keywords: Virtual Reality, Accessibility, Locomotion, User Study

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is often designed as a standing experience, excluding individuals with limited mobility. Given that a significant portion of the population experiences lower-body mobility restrictions, accessible VR locomotion must accommodate users without requiring lower-body movement. To build a comprehensive understanding of suitable locomotion techniques (LTs) for this demographic, it is crucial to evaluate the feasibility of various approaches in virtual environments (VEs). As a starting point, we present our evaluation approach and a user study on the feasibility and potential of selected LTs for accessible seated locomotion in VR. Our findings indicate that common LTs can be adapted for seated stationary VR. Teleportation-based techniques, in particular, stand out as viable options for accessible locomotion. Although our simulated wheelchair was less popular with non-disabled participants, it was well-received by wheelchair users and shows promise as an intuitive LT for (More)

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)

BibTeX

@inproceedings{huber-2025-esl,
  title =      "Exploring Seated Locomotion Techniques in Virtual Reality
               for People with Limited Mobility",
  author =     "Marlene Huber and Simon Kloiber and Annalena Ulschmid and
               Agata Marta Soccini and Alessandro Clocchiatti and Hannes
               Kaufmann and Katharina Kr\"{o}sl",
  year =       "2025",
  abstract =   "Virtual reality (VR) is often designed as a standing
               experience, excluding individuals with limited mobility.
               Given that a significant portion of the population
               experiences lower-body mobility restrictions, accessible VR
               locomotion must accommodate users without requiring
               lower-body movement. To build a comprehensive understanding
               of suitable locomotion techniques (LTs) for this
               demographic, it is crucial to evaluate the feasibility of
               various approaches in virtual environments (VEs). As a
               starting point, we present our evaluation approach and a
               user study on the feasibility and potential of selected LTs
               for accessible seated locomotion in VR. Our findings
               indicate that common LTs can be adapted for seated
               stationary VR. Teleportation-based techniques, in
               particular, stand out as viable options for accessible
               locomotion. Although our simulated wheelchair was less
               popular with non-disabled participants, it was well-received
               by wheelchair users and shows promise as an intuitive LT for
               (More)",
  isbn =       "978-989-758-728-3",
  publisher =  "SciTePress",
  location =   "Porto",
  event =      "20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision,
               Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications",
  booktitle =  "Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on
               Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and
               Applications - GRAPP",
  pages =      "13",
  volume =     "1",
  pages =      "161--173",
  keywords =   "Virtual Reality, Accessibility, Locomotion, User Study",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2025/huber-2025-esl/",
}