The Ergonomics of Naturalness: A Comparative Analysis of Extrinsic Cognitive Load in Hand-Tracking and Controller-Based VR Interactions

Virtual reality efficacy is constrained by the Extraneous Cognitive Load (ECL) imposed by interface design. Grounded in Evolutionary Educational Psychology, this study posits that Hand-Tracking leverages biologically primary knowledge, thereby minimizing the cognitive load relative to abstract controllers. A between-subjects experiment (N = 32 novices) using the Meta Quest 3S compared perceived ECL using the SIM-TLX across two phases: familiarization and complex tasks. During familiarization, Hand-Tracking generated significantly lower ECL (p = .040), validating the Embodiment Principle for lowering the initial barrier to entry. However, this advantage attenuated during complex tasks (p = .103), suggesting a convergence driven by rapid controller schema automation and the rising cognitive cost of precision in haptic-free hand tracking. These findings indicate that while natural interaction effectively minimizes the initial Gulf of Execution, a trade-off exists between naturalness and precision. Consequently, instructional designers should consider adaptive interfaces that transition from natural inputs to precision tools as learner expertise evolves.
Keywords: Virtual Reality (VR), Extrinsic Cognitive Load (ECL), Hand-Tracking, Controllers, Human-Computer Interaction, SIM-TLX, Self-Regulated Learning (SRL), Cognitive Ergonomics, Embodied Cognition, Instructional Design.

Volume 2, ISBN 978-989-758-833-4, ISSN 2184-5026, pages 1401-1408
Lien éditeur : https://www.scitepress.org/ProceedingsDetails.aspx?ID=LVctJ6/0O9I=&t=1