Vanti: A Novel Interaction Design for Immersive VR Walking Tours

Virtual Reality (VR) videos have become increasingly accessible with the advancement of immersive technologies. Viewing immersive VR videos using Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) demonstrates significant advantages in the field of view and immersion compared to traditional video viewing on 2D screens. However, current interaction methods of video playback in VR are mainly inherited from traditional 2D video players, using timeline with panels and icons overlaid on the video. However, these interactions may not be as intuitive and easy to use in VR, as users are immersed in a spatial enclosure that extends far beyond a 2D menu. This research proposes Vanti (Vanishing Timeline), a novel interaction design that combines video playback with locomotion in VR walking tours. The technique eliminates traditional timeline and button playback controls, transforming the passive viewing experience of traditional immersive VR videos into an active exploration of the real-world environments in the virtual tour. By mapping the steering locomotion with the video timeline, users can control their direction of movement and steer in VR to play (or rewind) the recorded video. Reducing video attributes of the immersive VR video improves users' freedom of movements in the surrounding virtual scenes. Our evaluation study with 25 participants showed that Vanti significantly improved user presence, agency and engagement in their interactions with immersive VR walking tours.