Virtual and augmented reality can temporarily change how people perceive distance, study finds

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that the use of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) can temporarily change the way people perceive and interact with the real world, with potential implications for the growing number of industries that are using these technologies for training purposes.

The study, recently published in the journal Scientific reportsnot only found that people moved differently in virtual reality and augmented reality, but that these changes led to temporary movement errors in the real world. In particular, participants who used virtual reality tended to miss their goals by not moving far enough, while those who used augmented reality tended to overshoot their goals by moving too far.

This effect was noticeable immediately after using VR or AR, but gradually disappeared as participants readjusted to real-world conditions.

“Our study explored how the use of mixed reality (MR) technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, affects our ability to perform everyday physical tasks once we return to the real world,” says Xiaoye Michael Wang, a research associate in the School of Kinesiology and Physical Education who co-authored the study with Professor Tim Welsh.

“Specifically, we wanted to understand whether the way our brains and bodies adapt to these digital environments changes the precision with which we can move and interact with real objects after using virtual reality and augmented reality.”

The researchers say they were surprised by two findings: first, that movement patterns in VR and AR transferred to real-world movements; and second, by how quickly the effects of AR faded compared to VR, with study participants readapting more quickly to real-world conditions after using AR.

The difference between virtual reality and augmented reality, they suggest, may be because people in augmented reality can still see and interact with their real-world surroundings, which helps them maintain more accurate perception of depth and distance.

“These findings are critical because they highlight a potential challenge in transferring skills learned in virtual or augmented reality to the real world,” Welsh says. “As more industries and training programs adopt these technologies for skills development, it is important to understand how they may impact real-world performance.”

“This could be useful for example for training surgeons, pilots or even for everyday life skills like driving. Knowing the limitations and effects of virtual reality and augmented reality helps ensure that these technologies are used effectively and safely.”

The researchers will then study how different types of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, such as those involving more complex or immersive scenarios, affect real-world performance. They also want to see how training duration and individual differences, such as prior experience with these technologies, influence adaptation and readjustment.

“This research will help us better understand how to design virtual reality and augmented reality systems that minimize negative side effects and maximize their training and skill development potential,” Wang says.