Effects of Short Exposure to a Simulation in a Head-Mounted Device and the Individual Differences Issue

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) displays have been developed for years; lots of technological challenges are still remaining to improve presence and hopefully avoid oculomotor trouble, eyestrain and sickness. Although the technology is not mature enough to avoid discomfort, the market already proposes devices to a large public, especially head-mounted devices. Many questions arise: Will customers adapt to those unnatural technologies? Could exposure to those kinds of devices be a public health trouble? Is it safe to drive a real vehicle afterwards? Motion sickness, simulator sickness and cyber sickness in VR are symptoms linked to a wrong (biased) multisensory integration, where visual fluxes and vestibular information are not coherent. As the VR images differ from real world by focus, anamorphic fluxes, image characteristics (rate of flickering, luminance….), vision, balance and oculomotor issues may be involved. Our concerns are focused on short time exposure (less than 10 min) to a VR display. We developed a brief test battery to quickly evaluate 3 dimensions: cognitive style using Rod and Frame Test (RFT), oculomotor modification (AC/A) and balance (vestibular tests). Here we present a pilot study to evaluate the hypothesized influence of a short time exposure to a roller coaster simulation using Oculus Rift DK1™. Participants were tested before and after 3 cycles of roller coaster simulation, they were allowed to freely move head and body. A few number of participants asked to stop the experiment before the third cycle of roller coaster, some of the participants felt a bit uncomfortable after the exposure. Global data analysis showed no significant effect of short time exposure on a series of tests but individual differences remain.