Real vs Simulated Foveated Rendering to Reduce Visual Discomfort in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study compares real and simulated foveated rendering in virtual reality to assess their effects on visual discomfort and nausea, finding potential benefits for sensitive users and task difficulty.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of real versus simulated foveated blurring techniques in VR for reducing discomfort and nausea.

Findings

Real foveated rendering improves task difficulty perception.

Simulated foveated blurring may reduce nausea in sensitive users.

Preliminary results indicate potential benefits for discomfort reduction.

Abstract

In this paper, a study aimed at investigating the effects of real (using eye tracking to determine the fixation) and simulated foveated blurring in immersive Virtual Reality is presented. Techniques to reduce the optical flow perceived at the visual field margins are often employed in immersive Virtual Reality environments to alleviate discomfort experienced when the visual motion perception does not correspond to the body's acceleration. Although still preliminary, our results suggest that for participants with higher self-declared sensitivity to sickness, there might be an improvement for nausea when using blurring. The (perceived) difficulty of the task seems to improve when the real foveated method is used.