How Video Passthrough Headsets Influence Perception of Self and Others

TL;DR

This study quantitatively examines how video passthrough headsets affect perception of self and others, revealing impacts on social presence, body schema, and distance perception, with implications for mixed reality adoption.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on perceptual and social effects of video passthrough, highlighting differences from prior qualitative findings and discussing broader implications.

Findings

Video passthrough induces simulator sickness.

It reduces perceived social presence.

It alters self-body perception and distance estimation.

Abstract

With the increasing adoption of mixed reality headsets with video passthrough functionality, concerns over perceptual and social effects have surfaced. Building on prior qualitative findings, this study quantitatively investigates the impact of video passthrough on users. Forty participants completed a body transfer task twice, once while wearing a headset in video passthrough and once without a headset. Results indicate that using video passthrough induces simulator sickness, creates social absence, (another person in the physical room feels less present), alters self-reported body schema, and distorts distance perception. On the other hand, compared to past research which showed perceptual aftereffects from video passthrough, the current study found none. We discuss the broader implications for the widespread adoption of mixed reality headsets and their impact on theories surrounding presence and body transfer.