Measurement of simulator sickness induced by scene movement in a ship handling simulator using SSQ and COP

Abstract

Recently, simulation systems have been used in fields such as training and education,medicine, the game industry, and architecture. However, users may experience simulator-induced sickness encluding visual fatigue, nausea and disorientation. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of simulator sickness due to scene movement (three sea states) in a ship handling simulator, by center of pressure (COP) and with a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Six participants were exposed to each scene for ten minutes, and three tests were performed.Subjects were asked to describe their sickness symptoms by answering the SSQ and postural stability tests were conducted using COP. The results showed statistically increased SSQ scores according to increasing sea states, but no significant effect on COP. No correlation was found from the test of association between SSQ scores and COP. It is expected that the result of this study could be applied to the design of the virtual environments of ship handing simulators.tion. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of simulator sickness due to scene movement (three sea states) in a ship handling simulator, by center of pressure (COP) and with a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Six participants were exposed to each scene for ten minutes, and three tests were performed. Subjects were asked to describe their sickness symptoms by answering the SSQ and postural stability tests were conducted using COP. The results showed statistically increased SSQ scores according to increasing sea states, but no significant effect on COP. No correlation was found from the test of association between SSQ scores and COP. It is expected that the result of this study could be applied to the design of the virtual environments of ship handing simulators.