Bone Conduction Vestibular Stimulation for VR Motion Sickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cyber motion sickness in virtual reality environments is caused by a mismatch between visual and vestibular stimuli, leading to discomfort and reduced immersion, especially in small spaces where motion platforms are not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize bone conduction output and air stimulation vibration to separate sound bands by frequency, stimulating the vestibular organ and enhancing the sense of movement in virtual environments, thereby reducing cyber motion sickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a motion platform is used to provide vestibular stimulation, then cyber motion sickness is reduced, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical motion platform system with a acoustic vibration-based system. Instead of physically moving the user through a motion platform, the invention uses bone conduction output units to transmit vibrations directly to the user's skull, substituting mechanical movement with acoustic vibration transmission to achieve vestibular stimulation without the complexity of motion tracking and physical movement infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bone conduction output units as an intermediary between the audio system and the user's vestibular system. These output units transmit vibrations through the bone of the skull directly to the inner ear, serving as a mediator that transfers vibrational energy without requiring the complex mechanical motion platform infrastructure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a motion platform is used to provide vestibular stimulation, then cyber motion sickness is reduced, but the required space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical motion platform system with a acoustic vibration-based system. Instead of physically moving the user through a motion platform, the invention uses bone conduction output units to transmit vibrations directly to the user's skull, substituting mechanical movement with acoustic vibration transmission to achieve vestibular stimulation without the complexity of motion tracking and physical movement infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional spatial movement (motion platform physically moving the user through space) to a different dimension of vibration transmission (acoustic vibrations traveling through the bone of the skull). This dimensional shift allows vestibular stimulation without requiring the physical space needed for motion platform movement
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sound bands are not separated by frequency, then the audio output is simple, but vestibular stimulation effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation to the audio signal by dividing the sound band into multiple frequency bands (e.g., low frequency, high frequency) and transmitting them through different bone conduction output units. This segmentation allows each frequency band to be optimized for its specific vestibular stimulation function, with lower frequencies providing one type of stimulation and higher frequencies providing another type
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces cyber motion sickness by providing vestibular stimulation that aligns with visual cues, allowing users to explore larger virtual spaces without physical discomfort, even in small real spaces.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a sound by a bone conduction method to generate a first output signal and a second output signal that have different frequency bands
Implementation Method 2
a whole sound band of a sound source of content is played through a bone conduction output while the full sound range of the content is played through an air stimulation vibration output unit that causes the full sound range of the content to be output to the ear of a user
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for supporting walking to reduce cyber motion sickness in a virtual environment are provided. There method includes analyzing, for a sound source of content in the virtual environment, a frequency for a sound band of the sound source; separating the sound band of the sound source of the content on the basis of the analyzed frequency and a reference frequency, and transmitting a sound by a bone conduction method to generate a first output signal and a second output signal that have different frequency bands; and outputting the first output signal and the second output signal at different positions through a bone conduction output unit during execution of the content.