Effects of different visual environments on task workload and performance ? Comparison between binocular immersive HMD and LCD display

Abstract

Virtual reality systems use different types of display to provide visual information to users. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are any changes in task workload and performance when users do pointing tasks shown either on a typical desktop LCD display or on a binocular immersive HMD. It was also investigated whether users’ performance follows Fitts’ Law across different visual displa y types. Participants performed three distinct mouse movement tasks (vertical, horizontal, diagonal) on each display. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was used to evaluate users’ workload, and Simulation Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was used to measure simulation sickness level perceived by users. The current study showed that Fitts’ Law holds regardless of display types, and users prefer to do pointing tasks on the LCD rather than on the HMD.