Comparison of hands-free speech-based navigation techniques for virtual reality training

When it comes to Virtual Reality (VR) training, the depicted scenarios can be characterized by a high level of complexity and extent. Speech-based interaction techniques can provide an intuitive, natural and effective way to navigate large Virtual Environments (VEs) without the need for handheld controllers, which may impair the execution of manual tasks or prevent the use of wearable haptic devices. In this study, three hands-free speech-based navigation techniques for VR, a speech-only technique, a speech with gaze variant (gaze to point to the destination, speech as trigger), and a combination of the fist two are compared by deploying them to a large VE representing a common industrial setting (a hangar). A within-subjects user study was carried out in order to assess the usability and the performance of the considered techniques.