Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Vision for Motor Performance in Virtual
Environments Across the Lifespan
Patrick Grabowski and Andrea Mason
University of Wisconsin, Madison
USA
1. Introduction
Current trends in neuroscience research are heavily focused on new technologies to study
and interact with the human brain. Specifically, three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment
(VE) systems have been identified as technology with good potential to serve in both
research and applied settings. For the purpose of this chapter, a virtual environment is
defined as a computer with displays and controls configured to immerse the operator in a
predominantly graphical environment containing 3D objects in 3D space. The operator can
manipulate virtually displayed objects in real time using a variety of motor output channels
or input devices. The use of VEs has almost exclusively been limited to experimental
processes, utilizing cumbersome equipment well suited for the laboratory, but unrealistic
for use in everyday applications. As the evolution of computer technology continues, the
possibility of creating an affordable system capable of producing a high-quality 3D virtual
experience for home or office applications comes nearer to fruition. However, in order to
improve the success and the cost-to-benefit ratio of such a system, more precise information
regarding the use of VEs by a broad population of users is needed. The goal of this chapter
is to review knowledge relating to the use of visual feedback for human performance in
virtual environments, and how this changes across the lifespan. Further, we will discuss
future experiments we believe will contribute to this area of research by examining the role
of luminance contrast for upper extremity performance in a virtual environment.
2. Background
The following sections identify the well-known physiologic changes that occur in the
sensorimotor system as part of the natural human aging process. Further, we discuss some
of the limited work that has been done to understand the implications of these changes for
the design of VEs.
2.1 Changes to the human sensorimotor system across the lifespan
The human body is a constantly changing entity throughout the lifespan. Most physiologic
processes begin to decline at a rate of 1% per year beginning around age 30, and the
sensorimotor system is no exception (Schut, 1998). There is a general indication from the
research that both the processing of afferent information and the production of efferent
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