Multimodal navigation for a haptic-based virtual assembly application

Some Virtual Reality applications are based on the use of haptic interfaces for a more intuitive and realistic manipulation of the virtual objects. Typically, the haptic devices have a ␣xed position in the real space, and their working space is rather lim- ited. As a consequence, there are locations in the virtual space that are out of the working space of the haptic device, and thus cannot be reached by users during the virtual objects manipu- lation. The paper describes a multimodal navigation modality based on the integrated use of various and low cost interaction devices that can be operated by a user taking into account that one of his hands is engaged for the manipulation of the haptic de- vice. Therefore, we have decided to implement the user interface by using the Nintendo⃝R Wii RemoteTM and the BalanceBoardTM , which can be operated by the user using the other hand and his feet. The navigation modality has been integrated and tested in a Virtual Reality application for the virtual manual assem- bly of mechanical components. A preliminary validation of the application has been performed by an expert user with the aim of identifying major usability and performance issues by using the heuristic evaluation method.