Influence of a Virtual Environment Presented Using a Head-Mounted Display on the Static Standing Position on an Unstable Support Surface

Norio Kato, Toshiaki Tanaka

VR, postural control, Center of Pressure (COP), Head-Mounted Display (HMD).

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has been used in postural control training; however, its effects on postural control have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to examine the effect of maintaining a stationary standing position in a virtual space presented using a head-mounted display (HMD). Computer graphics were used to create an environment identical to the real-time space and were presented to 11 participants through an HMD. The center of pressure (COP) sway was measured while the participants maintained a stationary standing position on an unstable support surface in real-time and virtual spaces for 30 s. With the participants’ eyes closed, the rate of change in COP sway during eye opening was determined. A significant increase in total trajectory length, forward and backward movement speeds, and average movement speed in the virtual space compared with the real-time space was observed. We believe that the increased instability is due to the depth information simulated in the virtual space compared with the real-time space.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.9.9.8