Standing Balance Improvement Using Vibrotactile Feedback in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study investigates the effectiveness of various vibrotactile feedback techniques in improving standing balance in virtual reality for users with and without balance impairments, demonstrating significant benefits especially from spatial and CoP feedback.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates specific vibrotactile feedback methods that significantly enhance VR standing balance, advancing accessibility and usability.

Findings

Vibrotactile feedback significantly improves VR balance (p < .001).

Spatial and CoP vibrotactile feedback outperform other methods.

Both impaired and unimpaired users benefit from feedback.

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) users often encounter postural instability, i.e., balance issues, which can be a significant impediment to universal usability and accessibility, particularly for those with balance impairments. Prior research has validated imbalance issues, but little effort has been made to mitigate them. We recruited 39 participants (with balance impairments: 18, without balance impairments: 21) to examine the effect of various vibrotactile feedback techniques on balance in virtual reality, specifically spatial vibrotactile, static vibrotactile, rhythmic vibrotactile, and vibrotactile feedback mapped to the center of pressure (CoP). Participants completed standing visual exploration and standing reach and grasp tasks. According to within-subject results, each vibrotactile feedback enhanced balance in VR significantly (p < .001) for those with and without balance impairments. Spatial and CoP vibrotactile feedback enhanced balance significantly more (p < .001) than other vibrotactile feedback. This study presents strategies that might be used in future virtual environments to enhance standing balance and bring VR closer to universal usage.