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Please read this participation information sheet in full before registering your interest using the link at the bottom of this sheet.
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The Effects of Haptic Feedback on Behaviour, Subjective Experience, and Task Performance in a Virtual Environment (MODREC Reference: 2431/MODREC/25)
Samuel Bateman ([email protected]), Prof Sam Vine ([email protected])
Thank you for your interest in this study. We are researching how touch-based feedback affects learning in virtual reality (VR). Please take time to read this information, discuss it with others if needed, and feel free to ask any questions.
This research project is being conducted by the University of Exeter with funding from the UK’s Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
We are investigating whether two types of haptic (touch-based) feedback can help people to learn better in VR. Haptic feedback refers to any touch-based signal you may feel when using technology, such as a vibrating game controller. As VR is becoming a popular training tool in schools and workplaces, this research will improve our knowledge of how to learn effectively in VR.
We are looking for people aged between 18 and 75 who have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
No, participation is entirely voluntary.
There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this experiment.
The study will begin with collecting some basic information, including your age, sex, experience with using VR, and your trait anxiety. After this, you will privately put on a heart rate monitor and haptic vest (vest that creates small electrical pulses on the skin). The haptic vest must have direct skin contact, so only bras (excluding sports bras due to upper-back coverage) can be worn underneath the vest. The power of the haptic vest will then be calibrated to suit your body type and sensitivity to electrical stimulation, beginning with the lowest power and gradually increasing. You will then learn how to use the imitation pistol-controller and will be fitted with a VR headset. To improve your aim with the controller, you will do a short target practice exercise. Images of this equipment are on the right.
The main task involves identifying whether a character poses a lethal threat. If you decide they do pose a lethal threat (such as by carrying a knife), you will be able to ‘shoot’ them. Throughout these tasks, the haptic feedback of the weapon controller and haptic vest may either be switched on or off. If the controller is switched on, you will feel recoil when you ‘fire’ the controller. If the haptic vest is switched on and you fail to shoot an armed character, you will feel brief haptic feedback across your torso. We will record some data relating to your task performance, movement data within the testing room, and screen recordings of your behaviour in the virtual environment. You will have some short breaks between the task where you will also fill in a short questionnaire.