Can Gender and Motion Sickness Susceptibility Predict Cybersickness in VR ?

Pohlmann, K. M. T., Li, G. , McGill, M., Pollick, F. and Brewster, S. (2023) Can Gender and Motion Sickness Susceptibility Predict Cybersickness in VR ? In: 30th IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR 2023), Shanghai, China, 25-29 March 2023, ISBN 9798350348392 (doi: 10.1109/VRW58643.2023.00066)

Abstract

VR headsets are becoming part of our everyday lives, however, cy-bersickness is a common side effect when using these devices. The experience and intensity of symptoms varies greatly between indi-viduals with some seemingly resistant to cybersickness and other suffering greatly. It is still not clear why some individuals suffer more than others and what characteristics might contribute to such a resistance. In this study, we investigate two individual characteris-tics that have been commonly discussed in relation to cybersickness with no clear consensus being established so far: gender and motion sickness history. Findings support the notion that females are more susceptible to motion sickness. However, one's motion sickness history did not relate to symptoms of cybersickness. In line with this, the difference in motion sickness history between genders did not translate to their experience of cybersickness, with males and females experiencing similar levels of cybersickness. These findings demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between gender and motion sickness history and their impacts on the experience of cybersickness. This work highlights the need for future explo-ration of individual characteristics and their effects on cybersickness susceptibility.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: This research received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (#835197, ViAjeRo).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pollick, Professor Frank and Brewster, Professor Stephen and Pohlmann, Ms Katharina and McGill, Dr Mark and Li, Dr Gang
• Authors: Pohlmann, K. M. T., Li, G., McGill, M., Pollick, F., and Brewster, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience; College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• ISBN: 9798350348392
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 IEEE
• First Published: First published in IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW)
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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