Effect of Onset Position of Ray Casting in Virtual Reality

In virtual reality (VR), interaction techniques significantly influence user experience and performance. In this study, we explore the effect of the onset position of ray casting in VR through a target selection task. We designed the pointing task (i.e., Fitts' law task) for data collection with various onset positions. We then analyzed data to explore how different onset positions affect the individuals' performance for 3D interaction in terms of pointing and selection. Results showed significant effects for each participant yet no generalized impact was found across all participants. Results highlight the complexity of human-computer interaction in ray casting and suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be effective. For future research and practical applications, our findings advocate a personalized approach that takes into account the specific preferences and responses of individual users. This tailored strategy could potentially improve the effectiveness and usability of interactive systems using ray cast techniques.