Publikation
Determining Perception Thresholds for Real and Virtual Inclinations While Cycling in Virtual Reality
Jonas Keppel; Marvin Prochazka; Stefan Lewin; Markus Stroehnisch; Marvin Strauss; André Zenner; Donald Degraen; Andrii Matviienko; Stefan Schneegass
In: Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ACM International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI-2026), April 13-17, Barcelona, Spain, CHI '26, ISBN 9798400722783, Association for Computing Machinery, 2026.
Zusammenfassung
In virtual reality (VR) experiences, mismatches between reality and virtuality are usually undesirable, as they can disrupt immersion and induce cybersickness. However, when carefully controlled, they may expand the design space of VR. This research investigates perceptual detection thresholds for mismatches between real and virtual inclinations during cycling in VR. Using a custom simulation, N = 30 participants cycled through a virtual city while physical and visual inclinations were independently manipulated. Real inclinations were implemented with a tilting indoor bike, providing vestibular and proprioceptive feedback, while virtual inclinations within the simulated environment were presented visually. A multiple staircase procedure derived estimates for perceptual thresholds that approximate which mismatches in visual and physical inclination were still perceived as congruent. These thresholds reveal a window of perceived congruence before mismatches become noticeable to users. These findings advance understanding of sensory integration in VR cycling and inform applications in immersive training, exergames, and rehabilitation systems.
