Terrain Appreciation in Virtual Environments: Spatial Knowledge Acquisition.

Abstract : The U. S. Army Research Institute is investigating the requirements for using Virtual Environments (VE) in training dismounted soldiers. This experiment investigated the effects of different VE parameters on spatial knowledge acquisition by comparing learning in advanced VE, restricted VE, and standard map training. This report also provides information about VE displays, head-coupling, presence, and simulator sickness associated with spatial knowledge acquisition in VE. The activities used during the learning phase of the experiment are generic to dismounted soldier activities. The high level virtual environment (Hi-VE) condition had a Stereoscopic Head Mounted Display (HMD) with fully head-coupled gaze control, and treadmill-based movement control. The restricted VE configuration (Low-VE) used the same HMD with both gaze direction and viewpoint movement controlled by a joystick. The map training participants used expanded topographical maps and were subsequently tested in the Hi-VE configuration. Participants were all trained on the definitions and representational configuration of a reduced set of topographical features, and dismissed if unable to reach a minimum criterion. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaires (SSQ), and the Immersive Tendencies Questionnaire (ITQ) were administered before the VE experience. Participants received training in VE movement and control before the experimental training and testing was conducted. The SSQ was repeated, and a Presence Questionnaire (PQ) was administered after the experimental session.

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