VR Motion Sickness: What It Is and How To Deal With It

Virtual reality (VR) headsets are becoming more and more widespread thanks to technological advancements and people developing better headsets for a lower price, making them more accessible than ever before.

Thanks to this accessibility, more and more people are exploring the world of VR (or the "metaverse"). Many people are possibly considering buying a VR headset for their loved ones or themselves this holiday season.

However, not everyone is cut out to be wearing these headsets for very long due to how VR works.

This condition or illness is called VR motion sickness, and it can wreck a person's VR experience badly if not properly addressed.

So what is VR motion sickness, and do we solve it?

What Is VR Motion Sickness?

People who have also experienced VR gaming or just exploring the metaverse may be familiar with how VR works. People normally teleport themselves to spots on the map and interact with the many things around them with floating hands through their VR-exclusive controllers.

Although many VR headset users find these control schemes odd or downright weird, it is the best there are at this time.

According to POC Network, teleporting is a better option than animating legs that move while you're standing in place, as it reduces the likeliness or severity of motion sickness.

Motion sickness, according to the CDC, is a condition when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. For example, sitting in the back seat of a car without seeing the horizon and moving up and down in a boat can cause motion sickness, per the NHS and Family Doctor.

The manifestations of motion sickness vary from person to person. Some feel dizzy to the point of being nauseous, while others vomit on the spot.

The same is true for VR since the impression of moving around inside the metaverse is the opposite of what you're doing - standing still or sitting down.

As such, teleporting in the metaverse instead of animating legs to show that your character is moving is preferable.

How To Cure VR Motion Sickness

Preventing or curing VR motion sickness doesn't need specialized/manufactured medication to do so. According to UploadVR, playing VR games or staying in the metaverse for short periods can help you acclimate and get used to how things work in VR.

Additionally, aiming a fan at yourself while playing VR games and eating ginger an hour or two before can help you prevent yourself from hurling your lunch back the way it came from.

Aiming a fan at yourself could prove useful as the wind's direction can help you compartmentalize in which direction you are going.

Additionally, lowering the VR headset's brightness and controlling your breathing will help prevent and/or cure VR motion sickness.

The lower brightness provides lower stimuli than a brighter one, while remembering to breathe regularly can prevent yourself from hurling, as holding your breath can contribute to nausea.