This paper presents both an analysis of requirements for user control over simulated locomotion and a new control technique designed to meet these requirements. The goal is to allow the user to move through virtual environments in as similar a manner as possible to walking through the real world. We approach this problem by examining the interrelationships between motion control and the other actions people use to act, sense, and react to their environment. If the interactions between control actions and sensory feedback can be made comparable to those of actions in the real world, then there is hope for constructing an effective new technique. Candidate solutions are reviewed once the analysis is developed. This analysis leads to a promising new design for a sensor-based virtual locomotion called Gaiter. The new control allows users to direct their movement through virtual environments by stepping in place. The movement of a person's legs is sensed, and in-place walking is treated as a gesture indicating the user intends to take a virtual step. More specifically, the movement of the user's legs determines the direction, extent, and timing of their movement through virtual environments. Tying virtual locomotion to leg motion allows a person to step in any direction and control the stride length and cadence of his virtual steps. The user can walk straight, turn in place, and turn while advancing. Motion is expressed in a body-centric coordinate system similar to that of actual stepping. The system can discriminate between gestural and actual steps, so both types of steps can be intermixed.

There is currently much research activity involving virtual environments (VEs) and spatial behavior (spatial perception, cognition, and performance). After some initial remarks describing and categorizing the different types of research being conducted on VEs and spatial behavior, discussion in this Forum paper focuses on one specific type, namely, research concerned with the use of VE technology for training spatial behavior in the real world. We initially present an overview of issues and problems relevant to conducting research in this area, and then, in the latter portion of the paper, present an overview of the research that we believe needs to be done in this area.We have written this paper for the forum section of Presence because, despite its length, it is essentially an opinion piece. Our aim here is not to report the results of research in our own laboratory nor to review the literature, as other available papers already serve these goals. Rather, the primary purpose of this paper is to stimulate open discussion about needed future research. In general, we believe that such a discussion can serve the research establishment as much as reports of completed work. Introduction and BackgroundThis paper is concerned with the use of VE technology to train spatial behavior in the real world. Our use of the word behavior here is intended to include all of the processes that underlie spatial behavior-such as spatial perception, cognition, and awareness-as well as overt spatial behavior (performance) itself. In addition, however, our use of this word is intended to stress its importance; ultimately, it is the overt behavior that counts. Illustrative examples of spatial behavior include the behavior that is exhibited in • exploring a space, • searching for some item in the space, • planning or following a route in a space, • selecting and recognizing landmarks in a space, • estimating range and bearing of targets in a space (including cases in which the target is not visible from the estimation location),• constructing or interpreting maps of a space, and • imagining how a space and objects within it would appear from different viewpoints.Rather than focusing on past results about VEassisted training of spatial behavior, in this paper we outline a research program that is aimed at achieving future advances. By doing so, we hope to stimulate thought and discussion that will lead to the realization

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