Assessment of facial pressure sensitivity of head-mounted displays based on practical application scenarios

With the development of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies, improving the comfort of head-mounted displays (HMDs) is crucial for optimizing user experience. Although pressure threshold measurements have been widely applied in the design of wearable devices, no studies have yet investigated pressure sensitivity specific to HMDs. This study developed a novel handheld electronic force gauge to measure subjective discomfort sensitivity at nine key contact points between the HMD and the face under varying applied forces. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the results, with discomfort levels classified through clustering. A new sensitivity map was created based on these classifications. The findings show higher pressure sensitivity around the periorbital and zygomatic regions, with gender differences becoming more pronounced as pressure increases. Designers can leverage these data to apply soft or pressure-relieving materials in highly sensitive areas and adjust the weight distribution of the HMD.