Designing 3D input devices for immersive environments

In this paper we describe the end user driven development process of input devices for magnetic tracking in virtual immersive environments. Based on pre-tests with expert users we defined criteria for testing and found out about the preferences for handles of input devices. For this trial period we designed a new set of functional prototypes for magnetic tracking. Having taken the views of expert users into consideration, a controlled experiment was then conducted with novice users to compare the usability of an existing and a new device. Based on the results of this experiment we defined criteria to design input devices for immersive systems. A second controlled experiment was carried out to evaluate the revised device regarding its general design and the proposed design criteria. In this paper we will give a detailed presentation of the results of this experiment. From the results of this experiment we conclude that most of the applied design criteria have led to an i mproved input device.