Evaluating Vibrotactile Sensory Substitution for Spatial Navigation in Virtual Reality Environment

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness and intuitiveness of vibrotactile feedback delivered through a haptic vest as a tool for sensory substitution in virtual reality (VR). The study also sought to explore how individual differences among users , such as gender, handedness, and educational background, might affect task performance. Participants (N = 70) completed a VR navigation task based on a simple maze. Haptic cues were used to signal the location of virtual obstacles, and participants were instructed to reach a goal while avoiding collisions. Performance was evaluated using three metrics: number of collisions, time to completion, and path length. The results revealed significant individual variation in task performance. Men (n = 42) performed better than women (n = 28) in terms of collision count and path length, possibly reflecting differing navigational strategies. Participants with scientific backgrounds also outperformed those from humanities fields, likely due to greater familiarity with abstract spatial representations or interactive technologies. Additionally, the vibrotactile cues were generally well received, participants reported positive experiences and expressed interest in using similar devices in the future. Low simulator sickness scores (SSQ) further suggest that the system did not interfere with task execution or comfort. These findings support the viability of haptic vests for intuitive and low-effort spatial guidance in VR. Future research should explore alternative cue placements, real-world locomotion, and different vibrotactile patterns to improve system intuitiveness and applicability, particularly in complex or visually restricted environments such as rescue operations.