Virtual reality is incredible because it allows us to truly immerse ourselves in thrilling games and adventures. However, some gamers struggle with VR motion sickness, which can make the experience less enjoyable and prevent them from fully embracing the virtual world. As the metaverse grows in popularity and the number of VR enthusiasts rapidly increases, finding solutions for VR motion sickness has become essential.

 

What is VR Motion Sickness (Virtual Reality Sickness)

 

VR sickness is a direct consequence of a fundamental mismatch in how our brain processes sensory information. Our body relies on a delicate harmony between various sensory systems to understand its position and movement in space. These include:

• The Visual System: What our eyes see.

• The Vestibular System: Located in our inner ear, it is responsible for detecting head movements and acceleration and maintaining balance.

• Proprioception/Somatosensory System: Sensory receptors in our muscles, joints, and skin that tell us about our body's position and movement.

The problem arises in VR when these signals conflict.

Imagine you are wearing a VR headset, standing perfectly still in your physical space. Your vestibular system and proprioceptive senses tell your brain that your body is stationary. Yet, your visual system is immersed in a vibrant virtual environment where you might be soaring through the sky, driving a race car, or running through a dense forest. Your eyes perceive rapid movement, but your body feels none of it.

 

Why It Happens

Before we move forward, let's take a glance at the factors that could contribute to VR motion sickness:

 

• Mismatched sensory information & sensory disorientation
  VR creates a sensory conflict when your eyes perceive motion in the virtual world while your body remains stationary. This disconnect between visual perception and body awareness (proprioception) can lead to discomfort and disorientation.

• Latency and lag
  Delays between your physical movements and the visual updates in the VR environment can disrupt the connection between perception and action, increasing the risk of motion sickness.

• Field of view (FOV)
  VR headsets have a narrower field of view than natural human sight, which can lead to a tunnel vision effect. This difference challenges your brain to match what you see with how you feel the movement.

• Rapid or unnatural movements
  Quick accelerations, sudden stops, and rotational movements in VR experiences can disrupt your sense of balance and contribute to motion sickness.

• Environmental factors
  A hot or stuffy room, strong odors, low-resolution graphics, flickering screens, or improperly calibrated equipment can all make motion sickness more likely.

• Simulation sickness susceptibility
  Individual factors like age, previous history of motion sickness, and personal tolerance levels influence how likely someone is to experience motion sickness in VR.

 

How Can Kat VR Help Minimize the VR Sickness

While there are several methods to combat motion sickness, one stands out as the most effective by targeting its root causes. Omnidirectional VR treadmills offer a comprehensive solution, providing freedom from motion sickness along with many other benefits. Among these, the KAT Walk C 2+ is especially noteworthy.

 

The fundamental solution is already here!

 

Better Sensory Integration and Improved Body Awareness

The KAT Walk C 2+ gives you the freedom to move naturally in virtual reality—walk, run, crouch, and jump just like you would in real life. Previously, these actions were limited to hand controllers, but now you can perform them physically and seamlessly with the C 2+. Your real movements are perfectly synchronized with what you see in the virtual world, creating a truly immersive experience.

When you walk or run naturally on the treadmill, your brain receives real-time feedback through your feet and legs. This boosts your body's motion awareness, helping you adjust and move more naturally compared to using only a VR headset and hand controllers. The alignment of visual and physical input reduces sensory conflict and helps your body maintain balance. This seamless integration of virtual cues and physical movement means gamers experience a stronger connection between what they see and what they feel, which lowers the risk of motion sickness and boosts immersion.

 

Imperceptible Latency

The ultra-precise 2D tracking locomotion system of the KAT Walk C 2+ captures every movement—even your smallest steps—with real-time 1:1 accuracy and ultra-low latency of ≤10 ms. Lower latency ensures your actions are perfectly synced with the VR visuals, minimizing any disconnect between what you see and what you feel for a truly immersive experience.

The KAT Walk C 2+ eliminates common direction issues in VR, letting you move naturally—walk in any direction your body faces while freely looking around, just like in real life.

Experience smoother, more accurate separation between your head and body movements, which greatly reduces the risk of VR motion sickness and makes every session more comfortable and enjoyable.

Gradual Adaptation to VR Environments

VR motion sickness can be reduced by gradually adapting to virtual environments. A VR treadmill offers a simulated walking and running experience that closely mimics natural human movement. Its low-friction design helps your steps feel increasingly natural, making it easier to adjust to the sensation. This step-by-step exposure helps your body and brain get used to virtual motion, lowering the risk of motion sickness over time. Consider sitting during VR sessions, especially for less active games. This can enhance stability and reduce motion sickness. The KAT Walk C 2+ features a vehicle hub, allowing users to sit and relax during VR sessions.

 

 

 

Other Helpful Methods

Listen to Your Body & Take Breaks

If you start feeling any discomfort, take a break immediately. Step away, get some fresh air, and let your senses reset.

Environmental Adjustments

Prepare your gaming space by ensuring your VR equipment, like the KAT VR treadmill, is properly set up and calibrated.

 

 

Another important point to note:

Be mindful of your body before stepping into VR. Avoid using a headset if you're experiencing an ear infection, sinus infection, upset stomach, or general dizziness or nausea. These conditions can negatively impact your vestibular function (inner ears) and balance, making you more susceptible to VR sickness.

Individual factors like hormonal differences or certain chronic health conditions can also influence your sensitivity. While adjusting settings like field of view and improving depth cue recognition can help, it's always best to prioritize your well-being.

 

In summary, the KAT Walk C 2+ provides a comprehensive solution to help reduce VR motion sickness. It enhances sensory integration and proprioceptive feedback, while its advanced sensor system ensures low-latency, precise movement. This combination supports a smoother, gradual adaptation to movement in virtual environments. While it's important to remember that VR motion sickness varies for each individual and no VR treadmill can guarantee relief for everyone, KAT Walk C 2+ has the potential to be a game-changer for thousands of gamers facing this challenge.

 

If you've been held back by VR motion sickness and are eager for new VR adventures, now could be your moment to experience the difference!

 

More about the KAT Walk C 2+