In recent years, a innovative technique known as hand redirection has revolutionized interaction in virtual reality (VR).
The technique leverages offsets between the user's real and virtual hand to take control over their hand movement trajectories (e.g., redirecting their real hand to locations that differ from the locations they see their virtual hand in). This can be used, for example, to interact with objects out of the user's reach. Previous research has shown that such techniques can go unnoticed by users if the offset stays below the so called perceptual detection threshold.

While existing investigations have only focused on the redirecting the user's hand, in this thesis, the goal is to apply the concept to the the user's legs and feet. Specifically, in the context of this thesis, you will:

• identify relevant degrees of freedom in human leg and foot movement that are suitable for redirection
• implement a prototype that applies redirection to legs and feet
• study the perception of leg and foot redirection in a detection threshold experiment
• implement 2-3 sample scenes that showcase this novel type of redirection

References

The following papers can serve as a reference to learn more about the topics (see also the videos on the linked websites and on my profile):

• Hand Redirection
  • Estimating Detection Thresholds for Desktop-Scale Hand Redirection in Virtual Reality
    • https://umtl.cs.uni-saarland.de/paper_preprints/zenner-krueger-hand-redirection-thresholds-vr-19-pre-print.pdf
  • Haptic Retargeting: Dynamic Repurposing of Passive Haptics for Enhanced Virtual Reality Experiences
    • https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2858036.285822 
  • Sparse Haptic Proxy: Touch Feedback in Virtual Environments Using a General Passive Prop
    • https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3025453.302575 
• Detection Threshold Experiments:
  • Staircase Procedure Toolkit for Unity
    • https://umtl.cs.uni-saarland.de/paper_preprints/zenner-staircase-toolkit-vrst-23-pre-print.pdf
    • https://github.com/AndreZenner/staircase-procedur 

Prerequisites 

• Read the provided papers above (might require VPN to access)
• Be familiar or get familiar with the concept of hand redirection (see also further publications on my profile website)
• Background or interest in Virtual Reality
• Ideally: experience with Unity3D
• Completed HCI lecture and ideally already attended at least one seminar at our chair

How to apply

Please send me an email with the following pieces of information (if you do not answer every point, your application will not be considered):

• When you plan to start the thesis
• When you plan to finish the thesis
• A short motivational statement (max 0.5 pages) why this topic is interesting for you
• Your transcript of records and your CV