Virtual locomotion remains a challenge in VR, especially in space-limited environments where room-scale walking is impractical. We present LocoScooter, a low-cost, deployable locomotion interface combining foot-sliding on a compact treadmill with handlebar steering inspired by scooter riding. Built from commodity hardware, it supports embodied navigation through familiar, physically engaging movement. In a within-subject study (N = 14), LocoScooter significantly improved immersion, enjoyment, and bodily involvement over joystick navigation, while maintaining comparable efficiency and usability. Despite higher physical demand, users did not report increased fatigue, suggesting familiar movements can enrich VR navigation.
@article{arxiv.2601.02167,
title = {LocoScooter: Designing a Stationary Scooter-Based Locomotion System for Navigation in Virtual Reality},
author = {Wei He and Xiang Li and Per Ola Kristensson and Ge Lin Kan},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.02167},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
11 pages, 10 figures, conditionally accpeted by IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (IEEE VR 2026)