Evaluating Object Collection In Emergency Simulations Using Virtual And Augmented Reality

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two technologies that have received significant attention in recent years. While both hold immense potential, they offer distinct ways for users to interact with digital content and their physical surroundings. This research aims to evaluate the interaction between users and a collection of objects in both VR and AR settings. To achieve this, a user study was conducted with 24 participant using Meta Quest 3 headset to run simulation in both environments. The study focused on tasks related to object collection and emergency management while utilizing combination of objective and subjective metrics to evaluate user interactions in both VR and AR environments. Despite the relatively close scores for both result, research shows that participants prefer AR for emergency simulations over VR. Even considering participants' first-time use of the applications, AR remains more popular, supported by lower symptom rates reported in the sickness than VR. Additionally, participants tended to focus more on collecting small objects, though VR users often forgot these items, while medium-sized objects were more frequently overlooked in AR. Although VR users experienced more human errors related to collisions with real objects, the overall impact on immersion during simulations was not significant enough to favor one technology over the other. Based on this result, it can be said that while VR is better for showing immersion, it is generally better for a first-time user to engage in AR first since it will give less incidence of virtual sickness.