Item

Abstract

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a common side-effect in virtual environments and simulators. We hold that sea sickness and cyber sickness are of the same origin. In both cases, the vestibular afferents and proprioceptive information disagree with the visual information about body posture and movement. If one modality (or more) is in conflict with the physical movement of our body, motion sickness ensues. We report a number of studies that we have conducted to investigate how repeated exposure, complexity of the visual stimulus, odors, and music influence the genesis of VIMS. Since the standard method to measure VIMS, via the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, is rather time-consuming, it does not lend itself to taking the repeated measures necessary to portray the time-course of VIMS. We have validated a fast motion sickness scale (FMS) that is up to the job. Our results qualify and refine the conflict theory of motion sickness – and may even challenge it. On the one hand, basic visual parameters, such as brightness and contrast, were rather inconsequential for the degree of VIMS. On the other hand, vection, stereopsis, and other extra-retinal factors, such as music and odors, had substantial influence on the genesis of VIMS.