A study of interactive 6 DOF docking in a computerised virtual environment

The study investigated the ability to interactively perform a combined positioning and orientation task in a three-dimensional computer environment using a six degree of freedom input device. Two different visual feedback modes were tested: fixed viewpoint monoscopic perspective and fixed viewpoint stereoscopic perspective. Targets were located at one of six positions at plus and minus 10 cm along the X, Y or Z axes from a fixed starting location. Targets were oriented in one of seven orientations, a default orientation and at plus and minus 45 degrees from the default orientation about each axis. The results indicate that stereoscopic viewing improves trial completion time and positioning accuracy along the Z axis, but has no effect upon rotation accuracy. A significant variation in trial completion time across the target position and target orientation conditions was also found. Rotation error appears biased towards the X and Z axes.