Virtual and augmented reality can temporarily change the way people view distance, get education

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that the use of virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR) can temporarily change the way people perceive and interact with the real world – and that will affect the growth of industries that use these technologies for educational purposes.

The study, recently published in the journal Scientific Reportsnot only did they find that people moved differently in VR and AR, but that these changes caused temporary errors in movement in the real world. In particular, participants who used VR tended to lower their target by reaching farther, while those who used AR tended to exceed their target by reaching farther.

This effect was evident immediately after using VR or AR, but gradually disappeared when the participants were adapted to the real-world experience.

“Our study investigated how the use of mixed technologies (MR), such as virtual reality and virtual reality, affects our ability to perform daily physical activities once we return to the real world,” says Xiaoye Michael Wang, a researcher in the Faculty of Kinesiology. & Physical Education co-author of the study is Professor Tim Welsh.

“Specifically, we wanted to understand if the way our brains and bodies adapt to these digital environments changes how accurately we can move and interact with real objects after using VR and AR.”

The researchers say they were surprised by two findings: first, that movement patterns in VR and AR transfer to real movements; and second, how quickly the effects of AR wore off compared to VR, where research participants quickly adapted to real-world situations after using AR.

The difference between VR and AR, they say, may be due to the fact that people in AR can see and interact with their environment, which helps them maintain an accurate sense of depth and distance.

“These findings are important because they highlight potential challenges in transferring skills learned in VR or AR to the real world,” says Welsh. “As more industries and training programs use these technologies to develop skills, it’s important to understand how they can affect real-world jobs.

“For example, this could be important for surgical trainers, pilots or even everyday skills such as driving. Knowing the limitations and effects of VR and AR helps to ensure that these technologies are used correctly and safely.”

The researchers will investigate how different types of VR and AR experiences, such as those that include complexity or immersion, affect real-world tasks. They are also interested in how training time and individual differences such as previous experiences with these technologies, affect change and change.

“This research will help us understand how to design VR and AR systems that reduce negative side effects and increase their potential for training and skill development,” Wang said.