Extending the Fishing Reel – Improving Multiple Object Selection in VR Using Transparency and a Resizable Pointer

Abstract

One of the key challenges in distant object selection in virtual environments (VE) is 'target occlusion.' This paper presents a novel approach to overcome this issue when selecting multiple (occluded) objects at a distance in VR. We extend the well-known 'fishing reel' metaphor, adding transparency within the selection area and allowing manipulation of its size. In a user study (n = 30, within-subject design), we investigate two transparency concepts ('layer' vs. 'flashlight') and compare their efficiency against no transparency. Our results indicate that our transparency approach reduces physical demand and the need for adjusting one's position in space. They also show that density of objects in the VE influences performance, indicating that our method provides a greater benefit in dense settings. We demonstrate our technique by visualizing geo-tagged Flickr photos on a 3D alpine map, where users can select individual images from dense clusters to view in a floating gallery.