Evaluating 3D User Interaction Techniques on Spatial Working Memory for 3D Scatter Plot Exploration in Immersive Analytics

TL;DR

This study evaluates three 3D interaction techniques in immersive analytics to determine their support for spatial working memory during data exploration, revealing Walking as the most supportive method.

Contribution

It introduces a formal evaluation of VR and AR interaction techniques using a psychological test, providing insights into their effects on spatial memory support.

Findings

Walking supports spatial memory best

Grab follows in support

Teleportation is rated easiest for movement

Abstract

This work evaluates three 3D user interaction techniques to investigate their visuo-spatial working memory support for users' data exploration in immersive analytics. Two techniques are the common VR locomotion technique, Walking and Teleportation, while the other one is Grab, an object manipulation technique. We present two formal user studies in VR and AR. Our study is designed based on the Corsi block-tapping Task, a psychological test for assessing visuo-spatial working memory. Our study results show that Walking supports spatial memory best, and Grab follows. Though Teleportation is found to support it the least, participants rated Teleportation as the easiest way to move in the VR study. We also compare the Walking and Grab results in the VR and AR studies and discuss differences. At last, we discuss our limitations and future work.