Perception of Obstacle Size and Difficulty of Crossing in Physical and Virtual Environments.
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| Title: | Perception of Obstacle Size and Difficulty of Crossing in Physical and Virtual Environments. |
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| Authors: | Park, Seonghyeok (AUTHOR), Xiong, Shuping (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. Oct2025, Vol. 41 Issue 20, p12666-12676. 11p. |
| Subjects: | Virtual reality, Accidental fall prevention, Magnitude estimation, Visual perception |
| Abstract: | Obstacles are a common cause of slips, trips, and falls, but training for obstacle negotiation can be risky. VR offers a safer alternative, but potential differences in human perception between physical and virtual environments may affect training effectiveness. This study examines how people perceive obstacle size and crossing difficulty in both physical and virtual environments. Thirty young adults evaluated 25 obstacle variations (5 heights × 5 depths). Results showed that participants perceived virtual obstacles as smaller and easier to cross than real ones. Importantly, participants estimated obstacle height and depth on a ratio scale in both environments according to Stevens' power law (power coefficients: 0.94–1.10). These findings highlight the need to consider perceptual differences when designing VR environments for training purposes. Nevertheless, the overall perception trends and excellent absolute agreement suggest a high similarity between physical and virtual environments, supporting the potential of VR for safe, effective fall prevention training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Obstacles are a common cause of slips, trips, and falls, but training for obstacle negotiation can be risky. VR offers a safer alternative, but potential differences in human perception between physical and virtual environments may affect training effectiveness. This study examines how people perceive obstacle size and crossing difficulty in both physical and virtual environments. Thirty young adults evaluated 25 obstacle variations (5 heights × 5 depths). Results showed that participants perceived virtual obstacles as smaller and easier to cross than real ones. Importantly, participants estimated obstacle height and depth on a ratio scale in both environments according to Stevens' power law (power coefficients: 0.94–1.10). These findings highlight the need to consider perceptual differences when designing VR environments for training purposes. Nevertheless, the overall perception trends and excellent absolute agreement suggest a high similarity between physical and virtual environments, supporting the potential of VR for safe, effective fall prevention training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10447318 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10447318.2025.2464892 |
