Alterations in Physical Demands During Virtual/Augmented Reality-Based Tasks: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics and Human-Computer Interaction
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Virtual and Augmented Reality

Background:

• The increasing popularity of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) necessitates understanding their physical impact.
• Limited concrete evidence exists regarding the physical workload and biomechanical effects of VR/AR device usage.
• This review addresses the gap by synthesizing findings on the physical demands imposed by VR/AR tasks.

Approach:

• A systematic review of 27 articles was conducted.
• Studies evaluated the physical impact of VR/AR tasks using biomechanical sensing equipment and subjective user feedback.
• Data on movement, muscle demands (neck, shoulder), and user discomfort were analyzed.

Key Points:

• VR/AR use showed varied movement and muscle demands in the neck and shoulder compared to traditional methods.
• Seven VR studies and four AR studies reported altered muscle demands.
• User discomfort was reported in seven VR studies and three AR studies.

Conclusions:

• Interface and interaction design significantly influence physical alterations, especially in the neck and shoulder regions.
• Recommendations include optimizing gesture comfort, enhancing device wearability, and investigating the temporal effects of repetitive movements.
• A guideline is provided to aid researchers in conducting effective VR/AR physical impact evaluations.