Virtual Reality and Head Movements Across Different Planes: Investigating the Association Between Post-Exposure...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Neuroscience
• Human Factors Engineering
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) use is increasing, but VR-induced symptoms, like motion sickness, can detract from user experience.
• Visual acuity and head motion are hypothesized to influence the severity of VR-induced symptoms.
• Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing more comfortable and immersive VR systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between head motion in three planes (roll, yaw, pitch) and the intensity of symptoms experienced after VR exposure.
• To determine the impact of static and dynamic visual acuity (DVA) on VR-induced symptoms in healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

• Participants underwent static and dynamic visual acuity (DVA) testing.
• Participants were exposed to VR for 20 minutes.
• The Turkish version of the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) assessed symptom intensity, with data analyzed using multiple regression models.

Main Results:

• Static visual acuity and age did not significantly predict VR sickness questionnaire scores.
• Gaze stabilization in horizontal, vertical, and sagittal planes showed no significant impact on spatial learning or memory.
• Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) demonstrated a statistically significant effect on these parameters across all planes.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) is a significant factor influencing post-VR symptoms.
• Further research into vestibular-visual functions and individual differences is essential for enhancing VR user experience.
• Future studies should explore VR sickness in individuals with vestibular disorders to improve inclusivity.