Analysis of User Experience and Task Performance in a Multi-User Cross-Reality Virtual Object Manipulation Task

This paper presents a user study (N=40) exploring the impact of different virtual object manipulation techniques on user experience and task performance in a networked cross-reality application. Participants were organized into pairs, with one situated in an Augmented Reality (AR) environment in a real-world lab and the other in its corresponding Virtual Reality (VR) digital twin. The task required participants to take turns moving chess pieces to predetermined positions on a chessboard. The study was organized into six scenarios, each combining one of three manipulation techniques with one of two chess set sizes. Task performance measures included completion time and error rates, while subjective measures encompassed overall Quality of Experience (QoE), usability, co-presence, quality of interaction, and consistency with expectations. Results demonstrated a clear preference for the Pick, Drag, and Snap (PDaS) manipulation technique, which showed significantly faster completion times and higher user satisfaction. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on designing effective interaction techniques for cross-reality systems, revealing differences in results and preferences between AR and VR groups, particularly in task completion time.