Human performance in virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that simulates a user's presence in a computer-generated environment by engaging multiple sensory modalities, typically using a head-mounted display. The present research explores human performance in virtual reality (VR), with a focus on sensory integration, spatial cognition, and safety perception in virtual environments. The research is organized into three main studies, each addressing different aspects of human interaction within VR. The first study investigates the effects of different movement profiles on cybersickness and postural stability. Contrary to common assumptions in VR design, the findings indicate that varying speed profiles do not significantly influence user comfort or stability, suggesting that other underlying factors, such as the nature of visual cues, may be more influential. The second study examines human navigation in non-Euclidean virtual spaces, highlighting the cognitive challenges users encounter when navigating environments that deviate from traditional Euclidean assumptions. The results suggest that users may benefit from additional training, or cognitive aids, to effectively navigate curved spaces. The third study focuses on human-drone interaction within a VR setting and introduces a novel method for measuring perceived safety based on head acceleration data. This new measure provides a more nuanced and detailed understanding of safety perception compared to traditional physiological metrics alone, offering new insight for design guidelines that promote safer and more intuitive VR interactions. Overall, the research underscores the importance of empirical validation and interdisciplinary approaches in VR research. The findings offer valuable insights for designing more immersive and user-friendly VR systems that can accommodate a diverse range of users, enhancing both the effectiveness and safety of VR applications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Widdowson, Christopher J

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wang, Ranxiao F
• LaValle, Steven M
• Hovakimyan, Naira
• Simons, Daniel
• Lleras, Alejandro

• Virtual Reality
• Cognition
• Performance

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Christopher J. Widdowson

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127237

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127237