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by Mark Draper
Study 1 and 2: Pre-Study Instructions
(In Study 2, subjects were verbally instructed against all squats, knee bends, and severe movements after reading this instruction list)
Please read through these instructions carefully, asking any questions you may have. After you are comfortable with these instructions, you will get trained on the VR system and participate in some practice trials.
1) For each trial, your task is to move about a virtual room (20 ft x 20 ft x 8 ft), memorizing the locations of 3 specific virtual targets. You may move anywhere you want throughout the room while memorizing. Once you report that you have memorized these targets or after a 2 minute time limit, all targets will disappear and you will be transported to the middle of the room. You will then replace each target when it appears, one-by-one as accurately and quickly as you can. You will replace each target by moving it to its original location. You may place each target as many times as you like until you are satisfied with its location, within a 90 second time limit. Once you are satisfied with each target's location, notify the experimenter. You will then be transported back to the center of the room to replace a different target. No accuracy feedback will be given on replacement performance. After all three targets have been replaced, a new trial will begin. You will experience a total of 4 experimental trials.
2) The targets are colored CUBES that are dispersed throughout the room. Each cube is a different size with widths of 3", 9", and 15". Colors are no guarantee of target size, as they will change between trials. The colors are red, green, and yellow.
3) For each trial, the room may be empty (except for the targets) or may be filled with tables, chairs, a couch, etc. However the room will NOT change its configuration between memorization and replacement tasks WITHIN a trial (so if you learn target locations in an empty room, you will replace those targets in an empty room, and vice versa).
4) For each trial, you will also be have one of two virtual body configurations. A virtual body is a virtual representation of your own body in the virtual room that moves with you throughout the room (like your own body in the physical world). The two possible configurations are 1) no virtual body and 2) a full virtual body. When you have a full virtual body, you will see a complete virtual representation of yourself but only the right arm will be moveable. The feet will float along the ground. When no virtual body is present, a white arrow will exist in the location of your right hand.
5) Accuracy is more important then speed of replacement. However, you must remember that you have only 60 seconds to replace a target. You will be warned when only 10 seconds remain. Also, do not worry about orientation of the cube, only the position is measured.
6) In this VR world there is nothing to prevent you from freely passing through walls, chairs, tables, etc. at any time. Please try to stay in the room (do not pass through the walls). Also try to avoid going through items in the room when possible.
7) Questions may not be asked to the experimenters during the experiment, so please clear up any uncertainties before beginning. I am willing to answer all the questions that you have before you begin.
Study 3: Pre-Study Instructions
Please read through these instructions carefully, asking any questions you may have. After you are comfortable with these instructions, you will get trained on the VR system and participate in some practice trials to get used to the extent of your virtual reach.
1) For each trial, your task is to move within a virtual room (20 ft x 20 ft x 8 ft) and position yourself at a point where you think you can just touch a floating virtual tennis ball. You will begin each trial in a corner of the room, with a yellow tennis ball floating at one of three possible heights somewhere in the room directly in front of you. You will then move directly toward the tennis ball, positioning yourself where you think you can just touch the ball with your right hand WITHOUT BENDING, STRETCHING, OR TWISTING. You will not actually reach for the tennis ball at any time (except practice trials); you will only estimate your reachability in all trials. There is no time limit, and you can move back and forth as often as needed until you are satisfied with your position. No accuracy feedback will be given on reachability judgments. After reporting that you think you can just touch the tennis ball, a new trial will begin. You will experience a total of 18 experimental trials.
2) For each trial, you will also be have one of three virtual body configurations. A virtual body is a virtual representation of your own body in the virtual room that moves with you throughout the room (like your own body in the physical world). The three possible configurations are 1) no virtual body, 2) a virtual right hand only, or 3) a full virtual body. When you have a full virtual body, you will see a complete virtual representation of yourself but only the right arm will be moveable. The feet will float along the ground. When no virtual body is present, a white arrow will exist in the location of your right hand.
3) Accuracy is very important. Take your time in positioning yourself. Only move in a straight line directly towards (or away from) the tennis ball. Do NOT move off-line and attempt to approach the tennis ball from a different angle. Also, please make every effort to prevent accidental bending, twisting, and stretching on your part during all practice and experimental trials. I will watch for these movements during the experiment.
4) In this VR world there is nothing to prevent you from freely passing through walls or the tennis ball at any time. Please try to stay in the room (do not pass through the walls). If you move through the tennis ball, simply reverse your direction until you can see the tennis ball again.
5) Questions may not be asked to the experimenters during the experiment, so please clear up any uncertainties before beginning. I am willing to answer all the questions that you have before you begin.