Examining the Influence of Egocentric Distance on Exocentric Distance Estimation in Virtual Environments

Abstract

Egocentric and exocentric distance estimations are crucially important in the modern world. However, these skills can often be inaccurately assessed in virtual environments. A virtual space with two versions was designed to understand this phenomenon better. One version was created for PC, and the other for VR. A desktop display was used in the PC version, while the Gear VR was employed in the VR version. The exocentric distance estimation skills of 229 university students were measured, while egocentric distances were varied. A total of 157 students used a desktop display, and 72 students used the Gear VR. According to the results, significant associations were found between accuracy, egocentric distance, and exocentric distance in both versions. However, unlike the proportions of inaccurate estimates, the proportions of accurate estimates did not differ between the various egocentric and exocentric distances across both display devices. The two distance types had significant effects on accuracy and estimation time in the PC version; these effects were not observed in the VR version. The results of this study can inform the design of future virtual environments.