Virtual Reality (VR) locomotion methods are mainly ground-based, room-scale, or discrete, making them ill-suited for flying experiences. Although leaning- and controller-based techniques are promising for flying in VR, we lack empirical evidence of their advantages. We compared combinations of leaning- and controller-based methods for steering and velocity in a user study (N = 24) using a broom metaphor to integrate these methods into an understandable locomotion reference. The steering methods were: 1) controller-pointing (CP) and 2) headset-leaning (HL); and for velocity control: 1) controller linear displacement (CLD) and 2) headset linear displacement (HLD). Results indicate that HL increase presence compared to CP. However, combining HL with CLD worsens coin collection rate, completion time, mental load, control factor ratings, and enjoyment. In contrast, HLD worked well when paired with either steering method. CP-CLD led to the highest coin collection rate and lowest mental load. All methods had comparable feelings of flying.

Extended Reality (XR) technologies present innovative ways to augment sensory experiences, including taste perception. In this study, we investigated how augmented reality (AR) visual filters and synchronized audio cues affect gustation through a controlled experiment with 18 participants. Our findings revealed unexpected crossmodal interactions: while pink visual filter typically associated with sweetness reduced perceived bitterness in isolation, it paradoxically enhanced bitterness perception when combined with sweet-associated audio cue. Furthermore, we observed an inverse correlation between participant confidence levels and their perception of taste intensities across multiple dimensions, highlighting confidence as an overlooked factor in sensory experience design. These findings inform the design of nuanced multisensory experiences in immersive media, where subtle crossmodal interactions significantly influence user perception.