Comparison of center-of-gravity sway when standing while watching images displayed on virtual reality devices and monitors

Abstract

[Purpose] To obtain findings for the clinical application of virtual reality (VR) images reflected by head-mounted displays (HMDs), this basic study compared center-of-gravity (CoG) sway when standing while watching images displayed on HMDs and conventional monitors. [Subjects and Methods] The SPL, WoE, and HoE were measured in 22 healthy young participants using a sway meter under 3 conditions: watching VR images (VR); watching images displayed on a monitor (MT); and maintaining a static standing position (SS). Under conditions VR and MT, the same images (filmed using a 360° camera while walking at a speed of 80 m/min) were presented. [Results] The values representing the SPL and WoE were the lowest under condition SS, followed by MT and VR, in this order. Those representing the HoE were higher under conditions VR and MT, without a difference between these, compared with SS. [Conclusion] Both conditions VR and MT may influence CoG sway when standing, and the influence of the former may be more marked.