Navigation with Dynamic Visual Reference Reduces Cybersickness

Abstract Cybersickness, including simulation sickness, remains one of the major obstacles to the widespread adoption of virtual reality (VR) and driving simulation technologies. While many mitigation strategies have been proposed, their effectiveness often remains inconsistent across users. In this study, a dynamic visual reference is introduced that aims to reduce cybersickness by encouraging voluntary head movements during input-driven rotations, thereby minimizing sensory conflict between visual and vestibular cues. The system continuously monitors discrepancies between the virtual camera’s rotation and the user’s head motion and provides dynamic feedback to the users to realign their head orientation with the direction of virtual rotation. To evaluate its effectiveness, a within-subjects experiment was conducted involving 24 participants, comparing with and without the visual reference conditions, using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Results showed statistically significant reductions in total SSQ scores as well as in the nausea, oculomotor, and disorientation subscales, with large effect sizes across all measures. Moreover, task performance remained unaffected in the presence of the visual reference, indicating that the system alleviated discomfort without impairing user interaction.