Development of an elevated plus maze for humans in Mixed Reality

Abstract

This bachelor thesis investigates the implementation of a virtual Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) on the Meta Quest 3, a standalone headset, and compares it to an existing PC-VR application on the HTC Vive Pro. The EPM is a well-established paradigm for studying anxiety behavior, which was adapted to humans in a mixed-reality approach by Biedermann et al. using a PC-VR application. The focus of this work lies in two key areas: First, the user experience is analyzed to explore the advantages and disadvantages of both VR systems. Second, the calibration between the physical and virtual environments is examined to ensure precise alignment. Two different calibration methods are discussed, and the more suitable one is implemented. The results of user feedback highlight the strengths and weaknesses of both applications, with specific emphasis aspects on design and freedom of movement.