Short answer

Incorporate interactive, eye-hand coordination-based activities as a post-immersion recovery mechanism in VR design to reduce user-reported cybersickness.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Virtual Worlds (2024)
Method: Experimental study with within-subjects design.
Sample: 47 participants
Evidence: Moderate effect

Engaging users in eye-hand coordination tasks after virtual reality (VR) immersion can effectively alleviate symptoms of cybersickness, including nausea and vestibular discomfort. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in Virtual Worlds. Using Experimental study with within-subjects design. with 47 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate interactive, eye-hand coordination-based activities as a post-immersion recovery mechanism in VR design to reduce user-reported cybersickness.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentModerate effect

Post-VR task engagement significantly reduces cybersickness symptoms

Engaging users in eye-hand coordination tasks after virtual reality (VR) immersion can effectively alleviate symptoms of cybersickness, including nausea and vestibular discomfort.

Virtual Worlds · 2024

Key Findings

01A 12-minute rollercoaster ride in VR significantly increased cybersickness symptoms.
02Eye-hand coordination tasks performed after VR immersion and the rollercoaster ride mitigated nausea and vestibular/oculomotor symptoms.
03Higher susceptibility to motion sickness and less gaming experience (especially in first-person shooter games) were associated with greater cybersickness intensity.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate interactive, eye-hand coordination-based activities as a post-immersion recovery mechanism in VR design to reduce user-reported cybersickness.

How to apply

When designing VR applications that are likely to induce cybersickness, plan for a post-experience phase that includes engaging, interactive tasks to help users recover.

Project actions

01When designing a VR experience, think about how users will feel *after* they finish the main activity.
02Consider adding a 'cool-down' period with a simple, engaging task to help users readjust.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the impact of eye-hand coordination tasks, immersion levels, and individual gaming skills on the severity of cybersickness symptoms during and after VR exposure.

MethodExperimental study with within-subjects design.

ProcedureParticipants experienced VR immersion and a simulated rollercoaster ride designed to induce cybersickness. Symptoms were measured before and after immersion, and before and after the rollercoaster ride. Following this, participants engaged in eye-hand coordination tasks, and their cybersickness symptoms were reassessed.

Sample47 participants

ContextVirtual Reality (VR) environments, particularly those involving immersive experiences and motion.

Variables

IV["Eye-hand coordination tasks (presence/absence, type)","VR immersion duration","Gaming experience (proficiency)"]

DV["Cybersickness symptoms (nausea, vestibular, oculomotor)","Sense of presence"]

CV["Age range of participants","Duration of VR exposure","Type of VR content (rollercoaster ride)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Within-subjects design controls for individual differences.
+Assessment at multiple stages of VR exposure provides a comprehensive view of symptom progression.

Limitations

The specific type of eye-hand coordination task used might not be universally effective; different tasks could yield different results. The duration of the recovery task is also a factor.

Reliability & validity

The use of a validated questionnaire (CSQ-VR) and a standardized task (DLRT) enhances reliability. The within-subjects design improves internal validity by controlling for individual differences. However, the subjective nature of cybersickness reporting can introduce some variability.

Think critically

How might the *type* and *complexity* of the post-VR task influence its effectiveness in reducing cybersickness, and could certain tasks exacerbate symptoms for some users?

Design Principles

"Post-experience engagement can serve as a restorative element in interactive system design."

Cybersickness is a major barrier to widespread VR adoption. Understanding how to mitigate these effects through design interventions, such as task sequencing, is crucial for creating more comfortable and accessible VR experiences.

What This Means for Your Design

After using VR, doing a game that requires you to use your hands and eyes together can make you feel less sick.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing how to mitigate negative user experiences like cybersickness in your VR design project.
2.Use the findings to justify the inclusion of specific post-experience activities in your design proposal.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the efficacy of post-immersion engagement in mitigating cybersickness. By incorporating interactive eye-hand coordination tasks, designers can help users recover from VR-induced nausea and vestibular discomfort, thereby enhancing overall user experience and comfort within virtual environments.

Source

Virtual Worlds

Mitigating Cybersickness in Virtual Reality: Impact of Eye–Hand Coordination Tasks, Immersion, and Gaming Skills

journal · 2024

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about post-vr task engagement significantly reduces cybersickness symptoms?: Incorporate interactive, eye-hand coordination-based activities as a post-immersion recovery mechanism in VR design to reduce user-reported cybersickness. Evidence: Virtual Worlds (2024).
Why does "Post-VR task engagement significantly reduces cybersickness symptoms" matter for design?: Cybersickness is a major barrier to widespread VR adoption. Understanding how to mitigate these effects through design interventions, such as task sequencing, is crucial for creating more comfortable and accessible VR experiences.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate interactive, eye-hand coordination-based activities as a post-immersion recovery mechanism in VR design to reduce user-reported cybersickness.
What were the main findings?: A 12-minute rollercoaster ride in VR significantly increased cybersickness symptoms.. Eye-hand coordination tasks performed after VR immersion and the rollercoaster ride mitigated nausea and vestibular/oculomotor symptoms.. Higher susceptibility to motion sickness and less gaming experience (especially in first-person shooter games) were associated with greater cybersickness intensity.
What research method was used?: Experimental study with within-subjects design. with 47 participants.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2024 journal from Virtual Worlds.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing VR applications that are likely to induce cybersickness, plan for a post-experience phase that includes engaging, interactive tasks to help users recover.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on specific types of VR experiences (rollercoaster ride) and tasks; findings may vary for different VR content or task types. Long-term effects of task engagement on cybersickness were not assessed.