From: LHETTINGER@FALCON.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL
Subject: Re: Motion Sickness and VR
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 91 15:21 EDT




>NASA has developed drugs for combating space sickness.  Some of
>these might be useful for VR motion sickness.  

NASA has also had some success with Biofeedback techniques - Dr. Patricia 
Cowings at NASA Ames has done the majority of that work.

I don't think either of these approaches are going to work particularly well 
for individuals whose use of simulators or other VR devices, either for work 
or entertainment, is fairly limited.  Biofeedback is time-consuming and may 
deteriorate with lack of exposure to the offending environment, while 
anti-motion sickness medications often have deleterious side effects (eg., 
drowsiness).  

The solution to the problem will probably have to come from changes in the 
design of visual displays that appear to cause the problem, or 
in approaches to how the systems are used.  As an example of the latter 
approach, it is often best to acclimate a pilot to a new simulator before 
"turning him loose" to do whatever he/she wants in the thing.  During the 
initial phases of exposure to a virtual motion environment, it appears to be 
best to gradually adapt to the new situation.  For a pilot, this may mean 
doing nothing more intense then flying straight and level for a while on the 
first day or two, and then gradually increasing the intensity of 
maneuvering as adaptation sets in.  Limited exposure times also appear to be 
critical for avoiding sickness in novice users.


Larry Hettinger