A visual display enhancing comfort by counteracting airsickness

A simulator study has been conducted demonstrating a positive effect on airsickness by utilizing a 3D artificial Earth-fixed visual pattern. Participants were exposed to the same turbulent physical aircraft motion in a simulator three times in a row, each time using a different visual cue. In one condition only the interior of the simulator cabin was visible. In another condition an Earth-fixed star field moving opposite the simulator cabin was projected in front of the participant. In a third condition the same star field was used, however with additional anticipatory information by means of a rollercoaster like track showing the trajectory to go. Participants were asked for their misery and joyfulness ratings at fixed time instants using an 11-points misery scale (no problems–vomiting) and joyfulness scale (unpleasant–pleasant). The results showed that viewing an Earth-fixed visual frame moving instantaneously opposite the cabin motion did reduce motion sickness significantly by a factor of 1.6, thereby improving comfort. This condition could be applied in air transport, where often a monitor is available in the back of the seat ahead. The largest effect, i.e., a reduction by a factor of 4.2 was realized by adding anticipatory information. Although it is not possible to predict the effect of turbulence on the aircraft motion yet, an anticipatory display might already be applicable in other domains, such as at sea by using a wave radar and a ship motion model.

Research highlights
► A simulator study has been conducted demonstrating a positive effect on airsickness by utilizing a 3D artificial Earth-fixed visual pattern.
► The results showed that viewing an Earth fixed visual frame moving instantaneously opposite the cabin motion did reduce motion sickness significantly by a factor of 1.6, thereby improving comfort.
► The largest effect, i.e., a reduction by a factor of 4.2 was realized by adding anticipatory information.