Exploration and virtual camera control in virtual three dimensional environments

This paper evaluates three distinct metaphors for exploration and virtual camera control in virtual environments using a six degree of freedom input device. The metaphors are "eyeball in hand", "scene in hand", and "flying vehicle control". These metaphors have been implemented and evaluated using an IRIS workstation and a Polhemus 3Space. The system has the capability to record the motion path followed during an exploration session and this can be recorded and played back to create a movie. Evaluation is through intensive structured interview sessions wherein subjects are required to complete a number of tasks involving three different "toy" environments. None of the metaphors is judged the best in all situations, rather the different metaphors each have advantages and disadvantages depending on the particular task. For example, "scene in hand" is judged to be good for manipulating closed objects, but is not good for moving through an interior; whereas "flying vehicle control" is judged the best for navigating through the interior, but is poor for moving around a closed object.