Drag'n Go: simple and fast navigation in virtual environment.

Moerman, C., Marchal, D., Grisoni, L.


In this paper we introduce the Drag’n Go technique to navigate in multi-scale virtual 3d environment. This new technique takes its root from the point of interest (POI)* approach where the user selects a target to reach. The biggest difference between the two is that with Drag’n Go the user keeps full control of its position relative to the target as well as its traveling speed. The technique requires only a 2d input and consequently, can be used with a large amount of devices like mouse, touch or pen screen. We conducted preliminary experiment that highlights that Drag’n Go is an efficient and appreciated method for touch-based device and a competitive approach for mouse-based device. [PDF][Article]
* POI: The user specifies a target and selects whether the avatar is going forward or backward. A logarithmic speed function connects the camera traveling speed with its distance to the target.

Drag’n Go provides direct control of the avatar’s progression using a walking path built at the beginning of the interaction. The user controls the progression of the navigation by the position of his cursor using the line between its initial position and the bottom border of the screen as a slider (see image above).