Design and evaluation of IntuNav and EdgeNav navigation methods in desktop multi-browser virtual environments

Abstract

Abstract Desktop virtual reality (Desktop VR) is increasingly used as a software platform for information exploration, productivity, and learning, particularly when immersive head-mounted displays are not feasible. In these systems, navigation serves as a fundamental software interaction mechanism that directly influences usability, efficiency, and technology acceptance. This research empirically evaluates two mouse-only, first-person navigation techniques (IntuNav and EdgeNav) implemented as software-level interaction models within a desktop Multi-Browser virtual environment. A controlled between-subjects experiment involved 111 participants engaging in structured information-seeking and content-creation tasks that reflect real-world software workflows. Objective performance metrics were gathered alongside validated subjective measures, including the System Usability Scale (SUS), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ), and the raw NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). The findings indicate that IntuNav markedly enhances task efficiency, usability, technology acceptance, and presence relative to EdgeNav, whereas perceived cognitive load shows no significant differences between the navigation models. The findings provide empirical evidence that navigation design is a crucial factor in software interaction in Desktop VR systems, highlighting practical implications for usability-focused software development in three-dimensional navigation.