Don’t Panic: Recursive Interactions in a Miniature Metaworld

Abstract

Metaworld is a new recursive interaction paradigm for virtual reality, where a miniature display (or 3D map) of the virtual world is presented to the user as a miniature model that itself lives inside the virtual world. The miniature model is interactive and every action which occurs on the miniature world similarly occurs to the greater virtual world and vice-versa. We implemented the metaworld concept in the virtual reality application MetaCity, a city designing sandbox where users can reach into a miniature model and move the cars and skyscrapers. Design considerations of how to display and interact with the miniature model are presented, and a technical implementation of the miniature world is described. The metaworld concept was informally and playfully tested in the MetaCity which revealed a number of novel interactions that enable the user to navigate quickly through large spaces, re-scale objects in the world and manipulate the very fabric of the world itself. These interactions are discussed within the context of four major categories-Experiential Planning, Interdimensional Transformations, Power of the Gods and Self Manipulation. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Interaction paradigms; Virtual reality.

A Design Space Exploration of Worlds in Miniature

“…The first was recursive multiples, where a smaller version of the replica was embedded within the replica. This was shown by Bluff and Johnston [5] (Figure 9a) who used a camera copy of the environment to create an effectively infinitely recursive WiM using the Droste effect. The other form of multiples we observed were small multiples, like those used by Tatzgern et al [45] (Figure 9b) who placed replicas of the replica at different rotations to allow the viewer to see a building from many sides at once.…”

“…9. Examples WiMs with Multiples: (a) a recursive WiM, a smaller copy of the replica is embedded within the replica [5] (the red god hand and the grabbed building are replicated in the WiM), (b) a WiM with small multiples, each multiple shows the environment from a different angle [45]. Images reused with permission.…”

“…The first WiM by Stoakley et al [44] was created using headset VR, and many afterwards have been as wellincluding recent implementations such as Bluff and Johnston's [5] (Figure 10a). However, examples exist for a variety of other platforms including Cave VR [12] (Figure 10b), desktop VR [6] (Figure 10c), headset AR [46] (Figure 10d),…”

“…Fig.10. WiMs along various degrees of virtuality: (a) headset VR[5], (b) cave VR[12], (c) desktop VR[6], (d) headset AR[46], (e) projected AR[24], (f) handheld AR[29]. Images reused with permission.…”