A new development in technology has led to researchers at Lancaster University using a new technique of exploring virtual reality by the gaze alone. Normally when operating virtual reality through a headset, the user needs to physically move their head significantly to see things the way they should appear in the virtual world. Now, this can happen simply, just by looking and focusing. Special head-mounted displays let the user explore these virtual environments in a completely new way.

This research was led by PhD student Hock Siang Lee from the School of Computing and Communications, working alongside Dr Florian Weidner and Professor Hans Gellersen from Lancaster University and Dr Ludwig Sidenmark from the University of Toronto. Their recent paper gives an in-depth explanation of these techniques and their limitations, but it certainly has great potential. The group designed three techniques related to different types of gazes that capture information based on different types of eye movement. These three techniques mean it is possible to look 360-degrees around the user using control that comes from the eyes alone. Alongside naturally coordinated eye movement and head movement, this is an impressive development. These are cutting-edge approaches to using VR technology in a new and innovative way.

It is a major achievement that will be of benefit to a wide range of people. Consider those with disabilities involving reduced physical moment, who will now be able to advantage of the benefits virtual reality has to offer. However, it is additionally helpful to others wishing to avoid strains and injuries as well as being able to use environments previously off limits such as lying on a sun lounger on holiday or on a train. This is a revolutionary development to support these activities.

Hock Siang Lee said: "My hopes for the future of VR include enhanced immersion, broader accessibility, and more fun applications. Personally, VR experiences have been a great source of fun for me - and I want everyone to be able to experience its wonders too. My research on gaze-based viewport control allows users to look around in VR without controllers/hands or physically moving about. This allows users to look around VR even if they were tucked in bed, on the plane, or have limited mobility.”