23‐1: Invited Paper: Effects of Dynamic Spatial Distortion on User Experience in Virtual Environments

This study investigates the impact of dynamic spatial distortion on user experience in virtual environments. Spatial distortions, arising from mismatches in optical design, 3D content acquisition, and perception, can cause visually induced motion sickness and affect immersion. Two perceptual experiments were conducted: the first focused on comfort and task efficiency across three distortion levels, revealing significant effects on both subjective and objective metrics. The second experiment explored immersion at six distortion levels, using subjective IPQ scores and objective EEG data. A new model was developed, combining objective Beta band powers and spatial distortion information to predict immersion, with a high correlation to subjective evaluations. Results highlight the importance of minimizing spatial distortion to enhance user experience and offer a more accurate method for evaluating immersion in virtual environments.