Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The use of head-mounted displays (HMD) for virtual reality (VR) application-based purposes including therapy, rehabilitation, and training is increasing. Despite advancements in VR technologies, many users still experience sickness symptoms. VR sickness may be influenced by technological differences...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00096/full |
| _version_ | 1819082694650232832 |
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| author | Dimitrios Saredakis Ancret Szpak Brandon Birckhead Hannah A. D. Keage Albert Rizzo Tobias Loetscher |
| author_facet | Dimitrios Saredakis Ancret Szpak Brandon Birckhead Hannah A. D. Keage Albert Rizzo Tobias Loetscher |
| author_sort | Dimitrios Saredakis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of head-mounted displays (HMD) for virtual reality (VR) application-based purposes including therapy, rehabilitation, and training is increasing. Despite advancements in VR technologies, many users still experience sickness symptoms. VR sickness may be influenced by technological differences within HMDs such as resolution and refresh rate, however, VR content also plays a significant role. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the literature on HMDs that report Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) scores to determine the impact of content. User factors associated with VR sickness were also examined. A systematic search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Fifty-five articles met inclusion criteria, representing 3,016 participants (mean age range 19.5–80; 41% female). Findings show gaming content recorded the highest total SSQ mean 34.26 (95%CI 29.57–38.95). VR sickness profiles were also influenced by visual stimulation, locomotion and exposure times. Older samples (mean age ≥35 years) scored significantly lower total SSQ means than younger samples, however, these findings are based on a small evidence base as a limited number of studies included older users. No sex differences were found. Across all types of content, the pooled total SSQ mean was relatively high 28.00 (95%CI 24.66–31.35) compared with recommended SSQ cut-off scores. These findings are of relevance for informing future research and the application of VR in different contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:20:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74aa02783d334d48816c10c69bfb04ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:20:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-74aa02783d334d48816c10c69bfb04ae2022-12-21T18:51:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612020-03-011410.3389/fnhum.2020.00096512264Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisDimitrios Saredakis0Ancret Szpak1Brandon Birckhead2Hannah A. D. Keage3Albert Rizzo4Tobias Loetscher5Cognitive Ageing and Impairment Neurosciences Laboratory, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCognitive Ageing and Impairment Neurosciences Laboratory, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaDivision of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesCognitive Ageing and Impairment Neurosciences Laboratory, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaInstitute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesCognitive Ageing and Impairment Neurosciences Laboratory, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaThe use of head-mounted displays (HMD) for virtual reality (VR) application-based purposes including therapy, rehabilitation, and training is increasing. Despite advancements in VR technologies, many users still experience sickness symptoms. VR sickness may be influenced by technological differences within HMDs such as resolution and refresh rate, however, VR content also plays a significant role. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the literature on HMDs that report Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) scores to determine the impact of content. User factors associated with VR sickness were also examined. A systematic search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Fifty-five articles met inclusion criteria, representing 3,016 participants (mean age range 19.5–80; 41% female). Findings show gaming content recorded the highest total SSQ mean 34.26 (95%CI 29.57–38.95). VR sickness profiles were also influenced by visual stimulation, locomotion and exposure times. Older samples (mean age ≥35 years) scored significantly lower total SSQ means than younger samples, however, these findings are based on a small evidence base as a limited number of studies included older users. No sex differences were found. Across all types of content, the pooled total SSQ mean was relatively high 28.00 (95%CI 24.66–31.35) compared with recommended SSQ cut-off scores. These findings are of relevance for informing future research and the application of VR in different contexts.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00096/fullcybersicknesssimulator sicknesshead-mounted displayvirtual realityvirtual environment |
| spellingShingle | Dimitrios Saredakis Ancret Szpak Brandon Birckhead Hannah A. D. Keage Albert Rizzo Tobias Loetscher Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Human Neuroscience cybersickness simulator sickness head-mounted display virtual reality virtual environment |
| title | Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | factors associated with virtual reality sickness in head mounted displays a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | cybersickness simulator sickness head-mounted display virtual reality virtual environment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00096/full |
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