Effect of Head-Mounted Augmented Reality Devices on Electric Utility Manhole Workers: Neck Muscle Activity and Eye Blink Rate

Abstract

Two head-mounted augmented reality (AR) systems, Microsoft HoloLens and RealWear HMT-1, were tested to determine their effect on blink rate and muscle activity of the neck and shoulder muscles of electric utility manhole workers. The task of splicing a cable was performed under three conditions: HoloLens, HMT-1, and No AR (normal). Surface electromyography (sEMG) of the right and left sternocleidomastoid, splenius, semispinalis capitis, and upper trapezius muscles were measured on 13 manhole workers, and a small camera recorded blink rate of the right eye. Results revealed, in general, no significant differences in 50th and 90th percentile sEMG between the three conditions. There was no difference in blink rate between the HMT-1 and No AR, but the HoloLens blink rate was 7.8 to 11 blinks/min lower than the HMT-1 for two of the three tasks. A decrease in blink rate of these magnitudes may indicate risk of eye strain to manhole workers who use an OST AR device without appropriate rest breaks. Head-mounted AR devices deployed for underground utility workers warrant further study.