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How to Avoid Virtual Reality Sickness
Try these tips to overcome VR queasiness
By Andy O'Donnell Andy O'Donnell Writer Auburn University Andy O'Donnell, MA, is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a senior security engineer who is active in internet and network security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 12, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Consoles & PCs Xbox Buyer's Guide What to Know
Try using VR in a seated position to avoid dizziness.Ease into standing by using it with a simple standing game, like Google Tiltbrush.Looks for comfort mode options in your VR app or game. This article explains how to avoid virtual reality sickness. Instructions apply to any model of VR headset. A VR environment is different from a regular gaming environment. Because of this, some users will experience nausea after just a few minutes when exploring a virtual world, while others won't be struck by any illness whatsoever. Start With Seated VR Experiences
There's an old saying that goes, "You have to crawl before you can walk.” This wisdom is often true of virtual reality experiences, but think of it as, "You've got to sit before you can stand." When you first step into a fully immersive VR world, your brain may become overwhelmed with input. Add the complexity of balancing yourself while this new VR world is moving around you, and the experience may overload your senses and bring on feelings of nausea, dizziness, and general disorientation. Look for VR experiences and games that offer a seated option, which reduces problems with the effects VR may have on your sense of balance. If you've already experienced nausea with VR, stay away from VR flight simulators and driving games. Even though they are seated experiences, they still may be too intense, especially if they simulate things such as barrel-roll maneuvers. Those moves can sicken even people with iron stomachs. Move to a Simple Standing Game
When you think you're ready to try a standing experience, start with something simple, such as Google’s Tiltbrush or a similar art program where you are in complete control of a relatively static environment. This gives you experience navigating and exploring a room-scale-type environment while you focus on your painting. This approach gives your brain time to get used to this brave new world and stop any motion-induced VR sickness. Look for Comfort Mode Options
VR app and game developers are aware that some people are sensitive to VR-related side effects, so many add "comfort settings" to their offerings. These settings change such things as the user’s field-of-view and point-of-view or add static user-interface elements that move with the user. These visual anchors help reduce motion sickness by giving the user something to focus on. A great example of a well-implemented comfort setting option is the Comfort Mode available in Google Earth VR. This setting narrows the user's field of view but only when they are traveling from one location to another. Narrowing focus during simulated physical motion makes that portion of the experience more tolerable without taking away from the overall experience. When the travel part is complete, the field of view widens and is restored so the user doesn't miss out on the sense of scale that Google Earth so grandly provides. Make Sure Your PC Can Handle VR
While it may be tempting to buy a VR headset and use it with your existing PC, if that PC doesn't meet the minimum VR system requirements established by the headset's manufacturer, system-performance issues could ruin the experience or induce VR sickness. Oculus, HTC, and others have established benchmark minimum system specifications to help make sure PCs have enough power to achieve the proper frame rate needed to create a comfortable and consistent experience. If your brain notices any lag between the motion your body is making relative to what your eyes are seeing, any delay produced by substandard hardware breaks the illusion of immersion, possibly inducing feelings of illness. If you’re prone to VR sickness, consider going above and beyond the minimum VR specs to give yourself the best possible chance for a VR sickness-free experience. Additional speed and power is never a bad thing when it comes to VR. Increase Your VR Exposure Time Slowly
If you've resolved all the technical issues and tried the other tips, and you're still having VR sickness issues, you may simply need more time and exposure to VR. Be patient and don't try to push through the discomfort. Your body needs time to adjust. Take frequent breaks and avoid VR experiences and games that don't sit right with you. Try them again after you have more experience. VR should be an enjoyable experience that you look forward to, not something you dread. Experiment with these tips, gain exposure, and hopefully, your VR sickness will become a distant memory. Not everyone who tries VR gets sick or nauseous. You may have no problem at all. How your brain and body react to VR is very individual, and you won't know until you try. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Meta/Facebook's Bet on Virtual Reality 7 Great Virtual Reality Travel Experiences Metaverse vs. Virtual Reality: How They Differ and What That Means for You Tips for Creating a Virtual Reality Room 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a VR Headset The Best Google Cardboard Apps of 2022 How to Set Up and Use Meta (Oculus) Quest 2 Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Reality on iPhone The Best VR Apps for the iPhone in 2022 What Is Virtual Reality? (VR Definition) Expert Tested: The 7 Best VR Headsets in 2022 Sony PlayStation VR Review: Decent Console VR Elevated by Great Games Pansonite VR Headset Review: A Solid Start Your VR Journey HTC Vive Pro Headset Review: The Best Consumer VR Vive Cosmos Review: A Good VR Headset with Stiff Competition How to Use HTC Vive Without Sensors Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies