Studies using virtual reality environments (VE) have shown that subjects can perform path integration tasks with acceptable performance. However, in these studies, subjects could walk naturally across large tracking areas, or researchers provided them with large- immersive displays. Unfortunately, these configurations are far from current consumer-oriented VEs (COVEs), and little is known about how their limitations influence this task. Using a triangle completion paradigm, we assessed the subjects' spatial performance when developing path integration tasks in two consumer-oriented displays (an HTC Vive and a GearVR) and two consumer-oriented interaction devices (a Virtuix Omni motion platform and a Touchpad Control). Our results show that when locomotion is available (motion platform condition), there exist significant effects regarding the display and the path. In contrast, when locomotion is mediated no effect was found. Some future research directions are therefore proposed.

Homing is a fundamental task which plays a vital role in spatial navigation. Its performance depends on the computation of a homing vector, where human beings can use simultaneously two different cognitive strategies: an online strategy based on the self-motion cues known as path integration (PI), and an offline strategy called piloting based on the spatial image of the path. Studies using virtual reality environments (VE) have shown that human being can perform homing tasks with acceptable performance. However, in these studies, subjects were able to walk naturally across large tracking areas, or researchers provided them with high-end large-immersive displays. Unfortunately, these configurations are far from current consumer-oriented devices, and very little is known about how their limitations can influence these cognitive processes. Using a triangle completion paradigm, we assessed homing tasks in two consumer-oriented displays (an HTC Vive and a GearVR) and two consumer-oriented interaction devices (a Virtuix Omni Treadmill and a Touchpad Control). Our results show that when locomotion is available (treadmill condition), there exist significant effects regarding display and path complexity. In contrast, when locomotion is restricted (touchpad condition), some effects on path complexity were found. Thus, some future research directions are therefore proposed.

This poster formulates the concept of heterogeneous distributed mixed reality (HDMR) applications in order to state some interesting research questions in this domain. HDMR applications give synchronous access to shared virtual worlds, from diverse mixed reality (MR) hardware, and at similar levels of functionality. We show the relationship between HDMR and previous concepts, state challenges in their development, and illustrate this concept and its challenges with an example.