Testing Hand Gestures as a New Way to Interact in Underwater Virtual Reality

What is it about?

This research explores a new way to interact with virtual reality (VR) underwater. We developed a special underwater VR system that uses hand gestures for control, which is innovative as most underwater VR systems don't offer any interaction at all. A waterproof VR headset with a built-in camera was created to recognise three simple hand movements: grabbing to move around, pinching for quick actions, and pointing for continuous actions. The system was tested both above water and underwater to evaluate its performance. It was found that while being underwater slightly affected gesture recognition accuracy, the system still performed well overall. People were also invited to try out the system in a virtual underwater scene, where they could explore and interact with objects using these hand gestures. Participants in the study reported feeling very present in the virtual world and found the hand gestures intuitive to use. However, some challenges were pointed out, such as difficulty controlling movement speed and direction, and some physical discomfort from using the system underwater.

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Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is significant because it demonstrates the possibility of creating more natural ways to interact with virtual worlds underwater. This could be valuable for various applications, including underwater training simulations, marine research, or even underwater entertainment experiences. The study's findings will contribute to improving future underwater VR systems, making them more user-friendly and immersive.

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