ReconViguRation: Reconfiguring Physical Keyboards in Virtual Reality (1907.08153v1)

Abstract: Physical keyboards are common peripherals for personal computers and are efficient standard text entry devices. Recent research has investigated how physical keyboards can be used in immersive head-mounted display-based Virtual Reality (VR). So far, the physical layout of keyboards has typically been transplanted into VR for replicating typing experiences in a standard desktop environment. In this paper, we explore how to fully leverage the immersiveness of VR to change the input and output characteristics of physical keyboard interaction within a VR environment. This allows individual physical keys to be reconfigured to the same or different actions and visual output to be distributed in various ways across the VR representation of the keyboard. We explore a set of input and output mappings for reconfiguring the virtual presentation of physical keyboards and probe the resulting design space by specifically designing, implementing and evaluating nine VR-relevant applications: emojis, languages and special characters, application shortcuts, virtual text processing macros, a window manager, a photo browser, a whack-a-mole game, secure password entry and a virtual touch bar. We investigate the feasibility of the applications in a user study with 20 participants and find that, among other things, they are usable in VR. We discuss the limitations and possibilities of remapping the input and output characteristics of physical keyboards in VR based on empirical findings and analysis and suggest future research directions in this area.

• The paper introduces a novel framework for reconfiguring physical keyboards in VR, enabling dynamic multi-function keys and expanded interaction models.
• The study evaluates nine VR applications, demonstrating that redesigned keyboard mappings improve usability and secure password entry through regional key shuffling.
• Empirical tests with 20 participants reveal that dynamic keyboard layouts positively affect user engagement and perceived target accuracy in immersive environments.

ReconViguRation: A Paradigm Shift in Physical Keyboard Utilization in Virtual Reality

The integration of physical keyboards into Virtual Reality (VR) environments is an area of growing interest and utility, as it offers potential advancements in user interaction efficiency and versatility. The paper "ReconViguRation: Reconfiguring Physical Keyboards in Virtual Reality" by Daniel Schneider et al. profoundly explores this domain by introducing and evaluating novel methodologies for keyboard interaction in VR settings. This paper scrutinizes how the inherent properties of VR can be leveraged to transform the functional and visual attributes of physical keyboards, essentially repositioning them from traditional peripherals to dynamic, multi-functional input devices.

Core Contributions and Methodology:

The research focuses on reconceptualizing physical keyboards within head-mounted display-based VR. The conventional fixed mappings of keyboard inputs and outputs are re-envisioned by utilizing VR's immersive capabilities. The authors propose a redesign of keyboard interaction, allowing for single and multiple key actions to leverage the full range of physical keys differently in a VR setting. This reconfiguration enables the keyboard to transcend its traditional role, making it an interface for diverse applications beyond text entry.

The paper delineates a rich exploration of input-output mappings with implementations across nine VR-relevant applications: emojis, language-switching, application shortcuts, text processing macros, window management, image browsing, a game (whack-a-mole), secure password entry, and a virtual touch bar. This selection serves as test cases to explore the potential of redesigned keyboard applications in a VR scenario, each delivering unique insights into utility and user engagement.

Strong Numerical Results and User Study:

The empirical evaluation conducted with 20 participants focuses on usability and perceived security concerning password entry, as well as user engagement with altered keyboard layouts. Significant findings show that regional key shuffling optimizes secure password entry, maintaining a balance between user efficiency and security perception—a key outcome guiding future design decisions. Additionally, the paper evaluates the implications of rendering virtual touch bars and other dynamic visual rearrangements, finding that while these do not substantially affect task completion time or errors, they do influence user experience concerning perceived target accuracy and accidental collisions.

Implications for Future Directions:

This research underscores the versatility of physical keyboards in VR and propounds significant implications for both practical applications and theoretical considerations in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It highlights how judiciously redesigning the physical keyboard's role can expand the VR's functional array, thus enhancing productivity, security, and engagement.

Future developments may consider the integration of mobile VR systems with laptop keyboards or implement augmented reality scenarios adopting similar methodologies. Exploring further variations of multi-modal input devices that synergize physical keyboards with other peripherals such as touchpads or mice could also extend the efficacy and applicability of the concepts introduced.

Conclusively, the paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the operational transformation of physical peripherals in VR, challenging the status quo and opening pathways for nuanced, context-aware, and adaptive interaction models in immersive environments. This work has laid a considerable foundation for expanding the discussion and exploration of peripheral utilization in the continuously evolving paradigm of virtual and mixed realities.