Does Perspective Matter? Understanding the Role of Viewpoints on User Performance in 3D Sketching

Most 3D sketching tools for Virtual Reality (VR) rely on traditional features, like scaling and translating the environment with the hands and viewing the environment using a first-person (1PP) point of view (POV). Yet, VR can enhance the artist’s experience in ways impossible in the physical environment. These novel ways to perceive the sketch might influence users’ behaviours, positively affecting the sketching quality and user experience. In a within-participants user study, we explore the possibilities of using different POVs for sketching by comparing three different perspectives, including first-person POV (1PP), third-person POV (3PP), and multiple third-person POV (M3PP). We collected data on their task performance and subjective experience to evaluate the impact of these perspectives on users’ ability to sketch in VR. Our results reveal that POV notably affects user performance.