Cybersickness is a common issue experienced by users of virtual reality. At the university, Jelte Bos is conducting research on this topic to further our understanding. In a recent interview, he discussed the causes of cybersickness and potential prevention methods for those participating in studies.

Cybersickness occurs when there is a misalignment between the balance organ and visual perception, which can lead to nausea. The reasons why some individuals experience this problem and others do not are still under debate, but it is believed to involve the different weightings of various cues for a person’s sense of orientation with respect to gravity, in particular visual, vestibular and cognitive.

Another contributing factor to cybersickness is the visual content displayed within the VR or XR glasses. The images must correspond to the user’s movements as sensed by the organs of balance in particular; otherwise, disorientation may occur. For instance, if a person is sitting still, but the VR glasses depict movement, this can lead to sickness. Similarly, a delay between one’s actual movements and the perceived movements within the glasses can cause issues. In augmented reality, the presence of an anchoring point, such as visible ground, can help mitigate cybersickness. However, this is more challenging to achieve in virtual reality. Researchers have attempted to use anchored grids but maintaining immersion can be difficult if the grid does not match the environment. Another possible solution that we can recommend is limiting the field of view while users move, although this field of study is still in its early stages.

When you’re welcoming participants to an XR experiment, Jelte Bos advises against offering them coffee before the session, since this can increase the chance of nausea. In the case that nausea occurs during the session, the first step should be to remove the headset. Providing cola or ginger tea can help alleviate symptoms. The decision to continue or halt the experiment depends on whether the participant’s cybersickness subsides. The sickness might not return when continuing the session, but there is a chance it might. If it is the case that you personally are experiencing cybersickness, repeated exposure to the virtual environment over several days may be beneficial. This habituation to sickness, however, will increase the risk of postural instability. To what extent this risk also causes a safety risk, e.g., active participation in traffic, needs further scrutiny.

We would like to thank Jelte Bos for keeping the community up to date on the latest science regarding cybersickness. He is currently focusing his research on understanding and reducing cybersickness, particularly in the context of self-driving cars. By validating existing theories and exploring new prevention methods, he aims to make virtual and augmented reality experiences more comfortable and accessible for all users.