Virtual and augmented reality in a simulated naval engagement: Preliminary comparisons of simulator sickness and human performance. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pettijohn, Kyle A.; Peltier, Chad; Lukos, Jamie R.; Norris, Jacob N.; Biggs, Adam T.
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 89(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Virtual environments -- Motion sickness -- Simulation and training -- Attentional processes -- Perceptual-motor performance; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare simulator sickness symptoms while participants wore either a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) headset. A secondary aim involved comparing how physical motion affects symptoms. During a simulation, participants wore VR and AR headsets while standing on a motion platform and firing at hostile ships under three motion conditions: No Physical Motion; Synchronous Motion, in which the physical and displayed motion were coupled; and Asynchronous Motion, in which the physical motion did not match the display. Symptoms increased over time but were not different with respect to headset or motion. The VR condition had higher accuracy and faster response time to the commence fire instruction. Further research is necessary to determine if this holds under more extreme motion. The use of VR or AR headsets for training under gentle motion conditions is practicable and should be permissible under normal conditions during deployment. Highlights: No differences were found in motion sickness between VR and AR headsets. Decoupling visual and physical motion did not exacerbate symptoms. Accuracy in a computerized shooting task was higher in the VR condition. Response times to the commence fire instructions were faster in the AR condition. Cue salience may explain the response time differences between the two conditions.