Handows: A Palm-Based Interactive Multi-Window Management System in Virtual Reality

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wang, Jindu, Zhou, Ke, Ren, Haoyu, Kristensson, Per Ola, Li, Xiang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Wang, Jindu
Zhou, Ke
Ren, Haoyu
Kristensson, Per Ola
Li, Xiang
author_facet Wang, Jindu
Zhou, Ke
Ren, Haoyu
Kristensson, Per Ola
Li, Xiang
contents Window management in virtual reality (VR) remains a challenging task due to the spatial complexity and physical demands of current interaction methods. We introduce Handows, a palm-based interface that enables direct manipulation of spatial windows through familiar smartphone-inspired gestures on the user's non-dominant hand. Combining ergonomic layout design with body-centric input and passive haptics, Handows supports four core operations: window selection, closure, positioning, and scaling. We evaluate Handows in a user study (N=15) against two common VR techniques (virtual hand and controller) across these core window operations. Results show that Handows significantly reduces physical effort and head movement while improving task efficiency and interaction precision. A follow-up case study (N=8) demonstrates Handows' usability in realistic multitasking scenarios, highlighting user-adapted workflows and spontaneous layout strategies. Our findings suggest the potential of embedding mobile-inspired metaphors into proprioceptive body-centric interfaces to support low-effort and spatially coherent interaction in VR.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_09469
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Handows: A Palm-Based Interactive Multi-Window Management System in Virtual Reality
Wang, Jindu
Zhou, Ke
Ren, Haoyu
Kristensson, Per Ola
Li, Xiang
Human-Computer Interaction
Window management in virtual reality (VR) remains a challenging task due to the spatial complexity and physical demands of current interaction methods. We introduce Handows, a palm-based interface that enables direct manipulation of spatial windows through familiar smartphone-inspired gestures on the user's non-dominant hand. Combining ergonomic layout design with body-centric input and passive haptics, Handows supports four core operations: window selection, closure, positioning, and scaling. We evaluate Handows in a user study (N=15) against two common VR techniques (virtual hand and controller) across these core window operations. Results show that Handows significantly reduces physical effort and head movement while improving task efficiency and interaction precision. A follow-up case study (N=8) demonstrates Handows' usability in realistic multitasking scenarios, highlighting user-adapted workflows and spontaneous layout strategies. Our findings suggest the potential of embedding mobile-inspired metaphors into proprioceptive body-centric interfaces to support low-effort and spatially coherent interaction in VR.
title Handows: A Palm-Based Interactive Multi-Window Management System in Virtual Reality
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09469