Headband against Motion Sickness

Not everyone can enjoy virtual reality without restrictions: Many users of VR glasses experience so-called "motion sickness" - temporary dizziness. A Chinese manufacturer of AR and VR headsets now claims to have found a solution to the problem.

There are still many applications where many users complain of discomfort during and after a VR experience. The complaints that according to a study, more than half of all VR users have already experienced range from headaches to dizziness to vomiting. Even though the causes of VR sickness have not yet been conclusively clarified, most theories assume that the main reason lies in a deviation between the simulation shown and the body perception experienced: for example, during a VR roller coaster ride, images are suggested to the brain that are normally accompanied by strong centrifugal forces. However, if these forces do not kick in, the organ of equilibrium interprets this deviation as a disturbance and generates defensive reactions such as nausea - similar to poisoning.

With a headband against nausea

Two companies now want to solve this problem with vibrating headbands. However, the company AntVR is apparently not quite so sure itself: in an email it apparently says that the so-called "Haptic Feedback Strap" could "perhaps" solve the problem of motion sickness. The accessory is a headband to be worn under the virtual reality headset.

Compatible with popular headsets

Several motors are integrated into the Haptic Feedback Strap, which vibrate in different ways depending on the movement in virtual reality. The manufacturer did not reveal whether the headband also influences the sense of balance of the inner ear. After all, almost 100 test persons are said to have tested the Haptic Feedback Strap in the context of a virtual roller coaster ride for AntVR. And this was tested with allegedly positive feedback, according to a tweet from AntVR:

Without the headband, only two people would have managed to survive two rides. The gadget supports various common headsets, including HTC Vive, Oculus Go and Oculus Rift. By the way, not all users experience motion sickness. In addition to one's own susceptibility, the headset and the virtual reality application used also play a role.

Source: curved / wired