Enhancing immersion in Virtual Reality sports through Physical Interactions
A new prototype aims to solve the 'tangible mapping' problem in VR sports by creating realistic physical tools.
A researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) has proposed a novel approach to solving a core immersion problem in virtual reality sports. Arka Majhi's Master's research, titled 'Enhancing immersion in Virtual Reality sports through Physical Interactions,' identifies that standard VR controllers fail to create a believable bridge between a user's physical actions and the virtual sports environment. His work focuses on the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) challenge of 'tangible mapping'—designing physical tools that feel and behave like their real-world counterparts to enhance perceived reality.
The research involves designing a physical controller prototype specifically for a VR skating game. The immersiveness of this custom controller will be rigorously evaluated against commercially available options through user trial runs and feedback sessions. Evaluation will be based on a Likert scale measuring key parameters: perceived interactivity, perceived reality, spatial presence, and enjoyment. The goal is to generate concrete findings that outline the critical parameters designers must consider when creating future VR sports controllers, moving beyond generic input devices to sport-specific physical interfaces.
- Research by IIT Bombay's Arka Majhi targets the 'tangible mapping' problem in VR sports controllers.
- A physical prototype controller will be built and tested in a custom VR skating game environment.
- Immersiveness will be graded on a Likert scale across four parameters and compared to market controllers.
Why It Matters
This work could define the blueprint for the next generation of VR sports equipment, moving beyond gamepads to realistic, sport-specific tools.