Auditory Feedback for Standing Balance Improvement in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study investigates how different auditory feedback techniques in virtual reality can enhance standing balance for users with and without impairments, showing significant improvements especially with spatial and CoP audio.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates four auditory feedback methods in VR, demonstrating their effectiveness in improving balance, which advances accessibility and usability in virtual environments.

Findings

All auditory techniques improved balance in VR.

Spatial and CoP audio had the most significant impact.

Both impaired and unimpaired participants benefited from auditory feedback.

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) users often experience postural instability, i.e., balance problems, which could be a major barrier to universal usability and accessibility for all, especially for persons with balance impairments. Prior research has confirmed the imbalance effect, but minimal research has been conducted to reduce this effect. We recruited 42 participants (with balance impairments: 21, without balance impairments: 21) to investigate the impact of several auditory techniques on balance in VR, specifically spatial audio, static rest frame audio, rhythmic audio, and audio mapped to the center of pressure (CoP). Participants performed two types of tasks - standing visual exploration and standing reach and grasp. Within-subject results showed that each auditory technique improved balance in VR for both persons with and without balance impairments. Spatial and CoP audio improved balance significantly more than other auditory conditions. The techniques presented in this research could be used in future virtual environments to improve standing balance and help push VR closer to universal usability.