Effects of uncoupled motion on performance.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether human exposure to vehicle motion specifically affects performance on a similar, yet uncorrelated, driving task and to observe the motion/simulator sickness symptoms that were associated with the real vehicle motion and the driving task.

BACKGROUND

Past research has shown uncoupled motion can affect a person's performance on a task as well as induce motion sickness.

METHODS

Ten participants (age range = 19-25 years) completed an uncorrelated driving task while seated in a stationary real vehicle and a moving real vehicle.

RESULTS

The results show participants took longer to complete the motion condition, t(9) = 1.96, p < .05, and were less accurate, t(9) = 3.73, p < .05. Scores for the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire, t(9) = 3.37, p < .05, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, t(9) = 3.30, p < .05, were significantly higher during the motion condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance on the task was degraded and motion sickness heightened during the motion condition.

APPLICATION: This research has potential implications for military-related tasks such as operating a command and control station or controlling a remote vehicle while simultaneously being a passenger in a real vehicle, as well as for civilian applications such as interacting with a moving map navigation system while driving a car.