Motion Sickness and Postural Sway in Console Video Games

• Published in: Human factors Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 322 - 331
• Main Authors: Stoffregen, Thomas A., Faugloire, Elise, Yoshida, Ken, Flanagan, Moira B., Merhi, Omar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2008; Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Subjects: Adult; Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Computer & video games; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Ent, stomatology, face, injuries. Foreign bodies. Diseases due to physical agents: otorhinolaryngology; Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology; Female; Human factors research; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Motion sickness; Motion Sickness - epidemiology; Motion Sickness - etiology; Movement; Postural Balance; Posture; Psychology; Risk Factors; Simulation; Space life sciences; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Video Games; Virtual reality; Applied ergonomics; Human; Video game; Internal ear disease; Risk factor; Oscillation; Console; Motion sickness; ENT disease; Trauma; Recommendation; Posture; Sensory and perceptual processes; Human-computer interaction; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0018-7208; 1547-8181
• DOI: 10.1518/001872008X250755

Objective: We tested the hypotheses that (a) participants might develop motion sickness while playing “off-the-shelf” console video games and (b) postural motion would differ between sick and well participants, prior to the onset of motion sickness. Background: There have been many anecdotal reports of motion sickness among people who play console video games (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation). Method: Participants (40 undergraduate students) played a game continuously for up to 50 min while standing or sitting. We varied the distance to the display screen (and, consequently, the visual angle of the display). Results: Across conditions, the incidence of motion sickness ranged from 42% to 56%; incidence did not differ across conditions. During game play, head and torso motion differed between sick and well participants prior to the onset of subjective symptoms of motion sickness. Conclusion: The results indicate that console video games carry a significant risk of motion sickness. Application: Potential applications of this research include changes in the design of console video games and recommendations for how such systems should be used.