Are avatars treated like human obstacles during aperture crossing in virtual environments?

Research Objective: The current study set out to determine whether individuals walking in a virtual reality environment pass through apertures made of two avatars differently than apertures created by two pole obstacles, as previously observed between pole and human obstacles in real-world environments.

Methods: Eleven healthy young adults wore a head-mounted virtual reality display, walked along a 10 m path and passed through a virtual aperture located 5 m from the starting location. Participants were instructed to avoid colliding with the obstacles when passing through the aperture.

Action strategies for walking through multiple, misaligned apertures.

When avoiding obstacles, path selection is thought to be determined by the attraction of the end-goal. However for aperture crossing, it is unclear whether the attraction point originates in the center of the aperture or at the end-goal, as previous experiments align the aperture with the end-goal. The purpose of the current study was to decipher the possible location of the attraction point, by evaluating crossing behaviour for multiple, misaligned apertures.

Does the passability of apertures change when walking through human versus pole obstacles?

The current study set out to evaluate how individuals walk through apertures created by different stationary obstacles. Specifically, we examined whether the passability of apertures differed between human and pole obstacles by quantifying aperture crossing behaviors such as the critical point. Participants walked an 8m path toward a visible goal located at the end.

The effects of narrow and elevated path walking on aperture crossing.

The study investigated the impact that action capabilities have on identifying possibilities for action, particularly how postural threat influences the passability of apertures. To do this, the ability to maintain balance was challenged by manipulating the level of postural threat while walking. First, participants walked along a 7m path and passed through two vertical obstacles spaced 1.

The effects of specific athletic training on path selection while running.

Apertures that are smaller than 1.3 times the shoulder width (SW) require that individuals make an adjustment to their normal walking behavior [6]. When given a choice, individuals will choose to avoid apertures smaller than this ratio, rather than rotate their shoulders and walk through [7].

Is the critical point for aperture crossing adapted to the person-plus-object system?

When passing through apertures, individuals scale their actions to their shoulder width and rotate their shoulders or avoid apertures that are deemed too small for straight passage. Carrying objects wider than the body produces a person-plus-object system that individuals must account for in order to pass through apertures safely. The present study aimed to determine whether individuals scale their critical point to the widest horizontal dimension (shoulder or object width).

Direction of single obstacle circumvention in middle-aged children.

When required to walk around a stationary object, adults use the location of the goal to set up their locomotor axis and obstacles presented along the locomotor axis will repel the individual towards the side that affords more space [1]. Research has yet to examine whether children can identify the locomotor axis and choose their paths accordingly. Therefore, the current study examined the factors that influence the direction in which children choose to deviate around a single obstacle and whether the presence or absence of a goal influences path selection and trajectory.

Action strategies used by children to avoid two vertical obstacles in non-confined space.

Information used to determine the action strategies necessary to successfully pass through apertures is based on the dimensions of the individual and the mover's action capabilities (Warren in J Exp Psychol 10:683-703, 1984; Warren and Whang in J Exp Psychol 13:371-383, 1987). Previous research has demonstrated that when children must pass through small spaces, they will produce a shoulder rotation at apertures 1.6 times their shoulder width and smaller (i.

Action strategies of individuals during aperture crossing in nonconfined space.

Walking through cluttered environments is a requirement of everyday locomotion, and individuals will walk toward open space and adjust their actions in order to prevent injury. When walking in a confined space, individuals require a shoulder rotation to pass through apertures smaller than 1.3 times their shoulder widths.

Young and older adults use body-scaled information during a non-confined aperture crossing task.

Young and older adults demonstrate differences in action when passing through confined spaces (Warren and Whang in J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 13:371-383, 1987; Hackney and Cinelli in Gait Posture 33:733-736, 2011). However, it is unknown whether or not these differences in actions exist during non-confined multiple obstacle avoidance tasks. The current study aimed to determine: (1) the differences in actions between young and older adults when given a choice in path selection and (2) establish the variables that may account for these differences in action.

Older adults are guided by their dynamic perceptions during aperture crossing.

Perceptions guide actions and these actions will affect perceptions (Gibson [1]). In return, these new perceptions will affect subsequent actions. The current study aimed to determine if the action differences previously observed in young and older adults are due to differences in perception and whether perceptual judgments guide action.

Action strategies of older adults walking through apertures.

The current study aimed to determine if the action strategies (i.e. Critical Point) of older adults when walking through apertures are different from those previously reported in young adults.