My thesis will present a critical examination of a method known as graduated acclimation within virtual reality gaming frameworks, aimed at mitigating the issue of Visually Induced Motion Sickness (VIMS). Despite the potential of VR, a number of users experience significant discomfort, often manifesting as motion sickness, which can shackle the full enjoyment and utilization of VR technology. My research will be centered on crafting VR gaming experiences that progressively expose players to the elements often responsible for inducing motion sickness. These gaming scenarios are fashioned to gently acclimate users to virtual environments and mechanics by constructing innovative design techniques that focus on utilizing graduated acclimation. This gradual exposure aims to decrease both the occurrence and intensity of motion sickness, thereby elevating user comfort. Importantly, this method is pivotal not only for enhancing the immediate experience of VR enthusiasts, but also for ensuring the long-term integration effects of virtual optic flows across a wider audience.
There are some existing studies that have exercised graduated acclimation as an approach to mitigate VR motion sickness. Some examples include:
VR Sickness Adaptation With Ramped Optic Flow Transfers From Abstract To Realistic Environments: This study from the University of Nevada involved training users with limited VR experience to better tolerate optic flow, which is a major cause of VR sickness. The study successfully demonstrated that gradual adaptation to increasing optic flow strength in abstract environments could reduce susceptibility to sickness and that this adaptation could transfer to more realistic environments.
Adhanom, I., Halow, S., Folmer, E., & MacNeilage, P. (2022). VR Sickness Adaptation With Ramped Optic Flow Transfers From Abstract To Realistic Environments. Frontiers in virtual reality, 3, 848001. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.848001
Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Graded Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Seoyoon Heo and Jin-Hyuck Park: Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022. While this meta-analysis focuses on the effects of VR-based graded exposure therapy for PTSD symptoms, the findings on the efficacy of VR-based therapy could provide insights into the general principles of acclimation in VR settings.
Heo, S., & Park, J. H. (2022). Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Graded Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(23), 15911. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315911
Virtual Reality Sickness: A Review of Causes and Measurements by Eunhee Chang, Hyun Taek Kim and Byounghyun Yoo: This study discussed the mitigation of VR sickness during locomotion by dynamically modulating the user’s field of view based on certain parameters like movement, color, and depth. This dynamic modulation could be seen as a form of graduated acclimation where the user’s perception is gradually adjusted to reduce VR sickness.
Eunhee Chang, Hyun Taek Kim & Byounghyun Yoo (2020) Virtual Reality Sickness: A Review of Causes and Measurements, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 36:17, 1658-1682, https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2020.1778351
My contribution to the field will serve as a systematic approach to develop a specific solution to a common problem in virtual reality environments. By designing and testing VR games that intentionally vary in intensity and complexity, my work can empirically establish the effectiveness of gradual exposure in reducing motion sickness symptoms. This not only has the potential to improve user comfort and extend VR sessions, but also serves the larger goal of enhancing user retention and expanding the adoption of VR technology. The implications of my findings could guide developers in creating VR content that is more accessible to a wider audience, including those who may be more susceptible to motion sickness, thereby contributing to the fields of VR game design, user experience research, and human-computer interaction.
For the next several months I will be creating an application that will focus on using innovative graduated acclimation techniques within VR mechanics; Specifically, VR mechanics that have a high probability of causing motion sickness. I will also be writing an 80 page thesis paper on all relevant information.
Feel free to leave a reply and also feel free to stay up to date by subscribing to this blog 🙂
chancellorpiazza.com 