Head-mounted displays for clinical virtual reality applications: Pitfalls in understanding user behavior while using technology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2006

Abstract

The use of virtual environments with head-mounted displays (HMDs) offers unique assets to the evaluation and therapy of clinical populations. However, research examining the effects of this technology on clinical populations is sparse. Understanding how wearers interact with the HMD is vital. Discomfort leads to altered use of the HMD that could confound performance measures; the very measures which might be used as tools for clinical decision making. The current study is a post-hoc analysis of the relationship between HMD use and HMD comfort. The analysis was conducted to examine contributing factors for a high incidence of simulator sickness observed in an HMD-based driving simulator. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate objective and subjective measures of HMD performance and self-reported user comfort ratings. The results indicated weak correlations between these variables, indicating the complexity of quantifying user discomfort and HMD performance. Comparison of two case studies detailing user behavior in the virtual environment demonstrates that selected variables may not capture how individuals use the HMD. The validity and usefulness of the HMD-based virtual environments must be understood to fully reap the benefits of virtual reality (VR) in rehabilitation medicine. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Identifier

33947653692 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Cyberpsychology and Behavior

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.591

ISSN

10949313

PubMed ID

17034327

First Page

591

Last Page

602

Issue

5

Volume

9

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