User goals
Move to a specific point in space (A to B)
Interaction
- Users activate teleporting with a button and use raycasting to target a point where they want to move to
- A visual target is displayed, usually with an arch that connects the user to their destination.
- Upon release, users are moved to the destination.
- The change of position is immediate and is called teleporting.
Good
- Prevents user from having to walk between the two points,
- Safest approach to locomotion for reduced chances of simulation sickness
- Escape strategy in games
Bad
- Users might have to set their orientation afterwards (although an advanced version of this pattern includes orientation too).
- Break-in-presence when travelling between the two points
- Precision to the detriment of speed: users need to select the exact point they want to move to, rather than a general direction.
Design challenges
- Making the teleport responsive to the user interaction and easy to control, so that users can move in the scene without a lot of effort
- Sudden change of scene and design of the transition between positions to avoid break-in-presence and simulation sickness
- Feedback when users select an area they cannot move to