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New study finds that mixed reality headsets can offer amazing experiences, but visual distortions, feelings of social absence, and motion sickness can undercut the vibe, dissuading prolonged usage
A new study finds that headsets merging the external world with digital content via passthrough video technology can offer amazing experiences, but visual distortions, feelings of social absence, and motion sickness can undercut the vibe, dissuading prolonged usage.
To put passthrough video through its paces, a diverse team of Stanford researchers recently conducted field tests alongside longitudinal analyses of their personal journeys and interpersonal interactions. Distortion occurs as well – a sort of “funhouse mirror” effect with objects’ shapes and dimensions appearing unnatural or morphing – and there was a just-noticeable lag in the display changing when users move their heads to a new view. All these effects contributed to profound feelings of what is known in this research as “social absence.” Instances of this included “challenges of discerning distant facial expressions,” noted by Wang, and the “lack of eye gaze,” reported by Santoso.
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