Senior Thesis

Virtual Reality is the future. One day our definition of reality will change drastically when the digital realm has invaded our perception and become apart of our daily lives. Right now we are in the infancy of that reality and one of the first steps to this widespread inclusion of technology in our lives is VR. Besides the slow adoption rate of VR, a huge problem is the lack of development for a system of movement that users believe to be optimal.

My senior thesis is the research and development of a method of movement within VR that does not require physical movement but functions through the use of our thoughts. This technology is know as Brain Computer Interaction and is the future of interaction within our world.

Current VR movement is restricted to the physical world that is defined by the space we inhabit or the implementation of digital ways of moving specific to the VR service you are using.

These are a few of solutions that are currently being used

• Treadmill

• Room Scale

• Thumb Sticks

• Locomotion

• Teleportation

I conducted a survey comprised of 15 questions and received 179 responses on the subject of one’s VR experience. From this survey I was able to pinpoint the main problem with current movement solutions and was able to asses the most viable option that dealt with respondents issues.

My research has led me to determine that despite user’s belief treadmills would be the best method of moving in VR, the main problem with VR movement systems is that most people are prohibited by space and or cost of current solutions. This leads me to believe that a BCI (Brain Computer Interface) is the most logical solution to this issue.

BCI's can come in two forms, intrusive and non-intrusive. Intrusive requires surgery and a physical connection between the brain and the interface while non-intrusive technology currently is based on EEG technology and its ability to measure your brain wave activity.

EEG's are able to measure and compute your thoughts through the activation of sensorimotor nerves. These nerves are located in specific regions of the brain and therefor can be used to make distinct movements within a virtual space.