Sex and Age Differences in Virtual Reality (VR) Sickness Susceptibility in Forklift Driving Simulation

Abstract

Traditional forklift training methods are limited by their time-consuming nature and high costs. Virtual reality (VR) simulators have emerged as a cost-effective and safe alternative for forklift driving training. However, previous research revealed a substantial challenge associated with VR experiences, specifically concerning motion sickness during forklift training. Motion sickness poses a significant challenge to the effectiveness and user experience in VR forklift simulations. The primary objective of this research is to examine the influence of sex and age on motion sickness susceptibility within a virtual reality forklift simulation. Twenty individuals (nine females, eleven males) participated in the study and completed several driving tasks in a VR forklift simulator. Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier) and Cox Proportional Hazards models examined sex and age differences in VR sickness. Age was the only significant predictor. The effects of age on motion sickness susceptibility highlight the need for tailored approaches in VR development and training.