The effects of different types of HUDs on Cybersickness - Effects of Diegetic and Non-Diegetic displays on Cybersickness in Virtual Reality

Abstract: Motion Sickness, or the more scientifically accurate term Cybersickness, is one of the major contributing factors that is hindering the VR industry from reaching and achieving its true success and appeal. There are studies that establish that the HUD do have an impact on Cybersickness. The aim of this thesis is to expand upon this and study the effects of Cybersickness, with different types of HUD is to use these two different types of HUD. The two different types of display elements are Diegetic and Non-Diegetic heads up display (HUDs). A virtual reality flying game was created where the player could switch between the two design elements while flying. By switching between the different types of HUD, it can be used as a comparison to decipher if the effects of Cybersickness do vary and what guidelines can be drawn from it. Based on the results there does exist a difference in Cybersickness experienced with each type of HUD, with the Diegetic HUD being the preferred one along with it emerged a set of considerations when using either a Diegetic or Non-deigetic HUD for games.