Waterloo researchers may be able to predict and counteract VR sickness

Waterloo researchers may exist able to predict and counteract VR sickness

This could help make VR more accessible

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Waterloo researchers may have found a style to predict motility sickness caused past virtual reality.

According to data collected from by researchers Séamus Weech, Jessy Paokaran and Michael Barnett-Cowan, how much someone sways in response to moving visuals correlates to sickness.

Researchers found that there was an inverse relationship betwixt how much someone swayed and the degree of cybersickness (sickness acquired by VR) they experienced.

"Despite decreased costs and pregnant benefits offered past VR, a large number of users are unable to utilize the technology for more than than a cursory period because information technology can make them feel sick," said Weech, a postdoctoral enquiry fellow at the Department of Kinesiology and lead author of the paper.

"Our results prove that this is partly due to differences in how individuals employ vision to control their residue. By refining our predictive model, nosotros will be able to rapidly appraise an individual's tolerance for virtual reality and tailor their experience accordingly."

The researchers conducted the report on 30 healthy participants aged 18 to xxx. They nerveless several sensorimotor measures such as residuum control, vection responses and vestibular sensitivity to cocky-motion. Vection refers to the sensation of moving that comes from entirely visual stimulation. Vestibular refers to the inner ear, which helps command balance and heart movements.

Following those tests, the researchers tested each participant'due south cybersickness later on exposure to VR.

Finally, the researchers were able to develop a model that significantly predicted how much cybersickness participants experienced after exposure to VR.

"Knowing who might endure from cybersickness, and why, allows usa to develop targeted interventions to help reduce, or even foreclose, the onset of symptoms," said Michael Barnett-Cowan, neuroscience professor in the Department of Kinesiology and senior author of the paper.

This is excellent news for anyone looking to get into VR. The tech is used in several applications, like education and gaming. Facebook's Oculus only announced a new all-in-ane VR arrangement called the Oculus Quest, making the tech more accessible than ever.

A way to predict vulnerability to cybersickness coupled with a method to prevent it could potentially help many VR users.

Source: University of Waterloo