Meaningful Assessments of Simulator Performance and Sickness: Can't Have One without the Other?

Abstract

The requirement to evaluate the differential impacts of simulator sickness on performance assessments was explored. Simulator sickness and performance data were analyzed in two phases that indicated: 1) an experimental display condition by age interaction with regard to development of simulator sickness; and 2) associated detrimental effects of simulator sickness on performance. Arguably, these results may be quite disturbing to users, and past users, of simulators for system and other Development, Test and Evaluation efforts (DT&Es). The utility of simulator sickness measures as covariates, in the analysis of performance effects, is demonstrated as a means for their assessment and statistical control. It is strongly recommended that researchers explore and control the potential confounding effects of simulator sickness in order to assure meaningful performance assessments.