Effects of Auditory Anticipatory Cues and Lead Time on Visually Induced Motion Sickness

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the ability of auditory cues for predicting motion and lead times to mitigate visually induced motion sickness (VIMS).BackgroundThe vehicle information systems predominantly utilize visual displays, which can introduce conflicts between visual and vestibular motion cues, potentially resulting in VIMS. In these scenarios, auditory cues may provide a viable solution, especially when visual cues are diminished by fatigue or distractions.MethodsIn two distinct studies, a total of 180 participants were involved in investigating the impact of auditory cues on VIMS. In Study 1, participants were categorized based on the type of auditory cue they received (speech, nonspeech, or no-cue). Study 2 examined the effects of three different lead times (1 s, 2 s, and 3 s) between the activation of the auditory cue and the occurrence of car braking or turning in nonspeech conditions. VIMS severity was assessed with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) before and after the simulation phase.ResultsNonspeech cues significantly reduced VIMS compared to speech or no-cue. VIMS was notably lower with a 2 s lead time than with 1 s or 3 s lead times, and females reported higher levels of VIMS than males.ConclusionResults across two studies suggest using nonspeech cues with a 2-second lead time to reduce VIMS. It also recommends investigating the effects of duration, tone, and voice frequency. Furthermore, the study proposes extensive research into lead time settings for various scenarios such as driving fatigue, hillside roads, and traffic congestion.ApplicationThese findings offer potential value in designing auditory cues to reduce VIMS in autonomous driving, simulators, VR games, and films.