Exploring Seated Locomotion Techniques in Virtual Reality for People with Limited Mobility

Virtual reality (VR) is often designed as a standing experience, excluding individuals with limited mobility. Given that a significant portion of the population experiences lower-body mobility restrictions, accessible VR locomotion must accommodate users without requiring lower-body movement. To build a comprehensive understanding of suitable locomotion techniques (LTs) for this demographic, it is crucial to evaluate the feasibility of various approaches in virtual environments (VEs). As a starting point, we present our evaluation approach and a user study on the feasibility and potential of selected LTs for accessible seated locomotion in VR. Our findings indicate that common LTs can be adapted for seated stationary VR. Teleportation-based techniques, in particular, stand out as viable options for accessible locomotion. Although our simulated wheelchair was less popular with non-disabled participants, it was well-received by wheelchair users and shows promise as an intuitive LT for this target group.