1998 Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 31-39
Recently, "Virtual Reality"(VR) has become one of the most attractive new technologies. VR isalso knownas"Virtual Environment", or VE. Inthis paper, we usetheterm "VE" because we are not working on training simulators but instead on systems for general users. VE technology has rapidly advanced and offers many promising applications in such areas as training, medicine and so on. However, a potential hazard to users of virtual environments has been found: some users complain of discomfort during and after the experience. This phenomenon is similar to motion sickness and has been called "simulator sickness". There is a direct link between simulator sickness and sickness in virtual environments: both are forms of visually-induced motion sickness. However, we believe there is a significant difference between general-purpose VE and simulators for special training. This report surveys the literature on simulator sickness and motion sickness in relation to discomfort in virtual environments, especially from the point of view of autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses. We hopethis research can suggestways to combat such risksto users and contribute to the expansion of safe VR and VE technologies.
