Comparing three interaction methods for manipulating thin deformable virtual objects

We present results of a user study in which we compared three interaction methods for manipulating deformable objects in immersive virtual environments. The task was to control a virtual robot hand removing a thin foil cover from a satellite in an on-orbit servicing training simulator. The lack of haptic feedback placed a high challenge on the user when trying to apply the right force for grasping the foil without losing grip or damaging it. We compared the intuitiveness and effectiveness of using a tracked joystick, finger distance measurement, and a novel prototype enabling direct force input through pinching.