G6-2　Behavioral and psychological effects by short time viewing 360 videos using a HMD

Abstract

The authors examined the psycho-physiological effects of viewing short segments of 360° videos using a head-mounted display (HMD) in terms of the type of content and the viewing environment. Twenty participants viewed 360° videos with varying features using an eye-tracking HMD consisting of a smartphone fitted in a case containing optics. Ten participants were seated on a swivel chair and the others on a fixed one. As objective indexes, changes in the direction of gaze and body rotation (shoulder and head) were measured during viewing. As subjective indexes, motion sickness, emotional reaction and presence and immersion were measured. The results of the objective indexes showed that gaze tended to focus on the center of the screen when there was more camera motion. Further, chair swiveling increased head motion and horizontal eye movement. Results of the subjective indexes showed that the content type affected subjective symptoms of sickness and emotional arousal. Furthermore, chair swiveling augmented these symptoms and decreased the arousal level. In conclusion, it is suggested that the behavioral and psychological responses of viewing short segments of 360° videos using an HMD are affected by both the characteristics of the content being viewed and the viewing environment.