RayFlex: Inducing Weight Perception through Raycast Pseudo-Haptics in Virtual Reality

Weight perception is essential for delivering compelling and realistic object interaction in VR systems. While existing pseudo-haptic techniques have enabled users to perceive virtual object weight without physical actuation, their application has primarily been limited to near-field, direct hand interaction. As VR systems continue to advance in fidelity and versatility, interactions with objects beyond arm's reach are becoming increasingly common. However, how weight perception can be introduced into such remote interactions, and whether it can enhance user immersion and experience, remains underexplored. To bridge this gap, we present RayFlex, a pseudo-haptic technique that conveys object weight in raycasting-based interaction through visual displacement and dynamic ray deformation. The technique was evaluated in two user studies, which examined its effectiveness in supporting weight discrimination and its impact on user experience across different interaction contexts. Results indicate that RayFlex leads to significant improvements in perceived realism, presence, and satisfaction, while maintaining usability. From the results, we derived two implications and an application guideline that can help design future VR systems.