Better Real-Life Space Utilization in VR Through a Multimodal Guardian Alternative

Space utilization and better exploration are important parts when building VR experiences that can be used by people with different play styles, requirements, and needs. A key factor in achieving this is a flexible guardian system that informs users about their position and potential hazards. We propose an alternative guardian solution that incorporates various modalities, notification types, diegetic and non-diegetic interfaces, which demonstrated improved space utilization and mobility compared to a standard system. However, this alternative solution may come with a higher cognitive load. We believe this system demonstrates that a better more immersive alternative to the Guardian solution is possible, which would maximize the utilized real-world space while adding better immersion. We plan to use this initial research as a basis for developing more robust versions, utilizing different combinations of the proposed features.