Improving a Sense of Flying up and down in a Standing Position by Foot-Sole Vibrations in Virtual Environments

Abstract

This paper proposed a new method to enhance the sensation of flight or floating up and down by visually presenting images of flying through an HMD and simultaneously applying vibrations to the soles. We varied the frequency and waveform of the vibration pattern applied to the foot soles and verified which vibration conditions enhanced the sensation of flight. The results showed that the frequency of 80 Hz and the waveform of asymmetric oscillation or white-noise vibration were more effective in inducing the sense of flight. This method can expand the range of VR content and reduce the system cost and space requirements.