Comparing low cost input devices for interacting with 3D Virtual Environments

Interaction with 3D Virtual Environments has always suffered from a lack of widely available and low cost input devices. Recently, thanks to the diffusion of gaming systems such as the Microsoft XBox 360 or the 'intendo Wii, new input devices are on the market at a relatively cheap price. This paper describes a study whose aim is to compare input devices in order to identify effective alternatives for the mouse and keyboard in such settings where their use is not advisable or feasible, e.g. museums and other public areas. This study has been carried out using a 3D Virtual Environment in which the participants were required to perform three canonical 3D interaction tasks. Two different groups participated to the test: the first group was involved in a pilot study to check the test environment. The second group performed the test.