Simulator Sickness: The Problem Remains

Abstract

This paper is aimed at providing the reader with some background on simulator sickness, an overview of the state of current research and some ideas on future research. In most simulator applications, the level of immersion is considered low. However, in some environment (VE) based systems the level is characterized as high. There is an evolving tendency to employ these higher levels of immersion in ground - based simulators. Some of these devices such as the CAVE, C -6 or helmet mo unted displays proved to be much more provocative of simulator sickness. Doctors Frank and Kennedy, in their 1983 paper reported that the phenomenon of simulator sickness was first mentioned by that name in reports by Havron and Butler in their 1957 articl e and subsequently by Miller and Goodson in 1958. A number of theories explaining this malady have been developed since that time; these include the sensory conflict theory and the postural instability theory. The sensory conflict theory seems to prevail a mong researchers; however, postural instability theory has a large number of supporters, primarily among ecological psychologists. The sensory conflict theory proposes that symptoms occur as a result of conflict among signals received by three major spatia l senses: the visual system, the vestibular system, and the non -vestibular proprioceptors. As stated by Frank and Kennedy the evidence which has accumulated, suggests that simulator sickness symptomology resembles motion sickness and other forms of distres s which occur following exposure to altered and rearranged sensory information, and perceptions. The essence of postural instability theory, developed by Stoffregen and Riccio, infers that prolonged instability in the control of posture leads to motion sic kness. A major part of the research on simulator sickness has based on data provided by US Navy. However, a few independent research teams have set up a number of experiments to obtain data on frequency and intensity of side effects of full immersion into virtual environments.