Changes

Although the feeling of nausea can come quickly, when using a HMD, users generally seem to be able to increase the time they are able to use it without feeling sick – in what is called “growing the VR legs”. This is achieved by persisting with the VR game or VR experience that the user got nausea, but doing so in small bits of time, for a while, until he can eventually sit for a long time without getting sick. This way, the maximum amount of sickness felt will get lower with time, even if at first the user might feel that he will never be able to acclimate to the VR <ref name=”4”></ref>.

Although the feeling of nausea can come quickly, when using a HMD, users generally seem to be able to increase the time they are able to use it without feeling sick – in what is called “growing the VR legs”. This is achieved by persisting with the VR game or VR experience that the user got nausea, but doing so in small bits of time, for a while, until he can eventually sit for a long time without getting sick. This way, the maximum amount of sickness felt will get lower with time, even if at first the user might feel that he will never be able to acclimate to the VR <ref name=”4”></ref>.

In online forums, users of VR devices have been sharing their experiences with different VR games and recommendations about how to decrease the [[simulator sickness]], and get their virtual reality legs. Some users advise not to prolong the playtime until the feeling of nausea becomes too uncomfortable. They recommend staying in the virtual environment just a bit after disorientation starts, in order to develop adaptation. Beyond that, a break is suggested. Other tips include ginger tea, or peppermint tea, to help with the nausea. Besides this, it is advised that the users adjust the settings of the device and software, like checking if the head tracking is working properly, and if the frames per second (FPS) are good enough for a smooth experience. While some users got their VR legs two weeks after starting using VR devices, others needed a month, or even 5 or 6. This adaptation led to an increase of time spent playing without noticeable side effects. It is also of notice that for different players, games might affect them differently. Also, there are some reports that getting the VR legs isn’t something permanent, with the VR sickness sensitivity increasing in direct relation to the period of time without using the VR equipment <ref name=”5”> Oculus Discussion Forums (2016). How long did it take you to get your “VR legs”? Retrieved from https://forums.oculus.com/vip/discussion/36541/how-long-did-it-take-you-to-get-your-vr-legs</ref><ref name=”6”> Oculus Discussion Forums (2015). Got my VR legs. Retrieved from https://forums.oculus.com/community/discussion/24704/got-my-vr-legs</ref>.

In online forums, users of VR devices have been sharing their experiences with different VR games and recommendations about how to decrease the [[simulator sickness]], and get their virtual reality legs. Some users advise not to prolong the playtime until the feeling of nausea becomes too uncomfortable. They recommend staying in the virtual environment just a bit after disorientation starts, in order to develop adaptation. Beyond that, a break is suggested. Other tips include ginger tea, or peppermint tea, to help with the nausea. Besides this, it is advised that the users adjust the settings of the gadget and software, like checking if the head tracking is working properly, and if the frames per second (FPS) are good enough for a smooth experience. While some users got their VR legs two weeks after starting using VR devices, others needed a month, or even 5 or 6. This adaptation led to an increase of time spent playing without noticeable side effects. It is also of notice that for different players, games might affect them differently. Also, there are some reports that getting the VR legs isn’t something permanent, with the VR sickness sensitivity increasing in direct relation to the period of time without using the VR equipment <ref name=”5”> Oculus Discussion Forums (2016). How long did it take you to get your “VR legs”? Retrieved from https://forums.oculus.com/vip/discussion/36541/how-long-did-it-take-you-to-get-your-vr-legs</ref><ref name=”6”> Oculus Discussion Forums (2015). Got my VR legs. Retrieved from https://forums.oculus.com/community/discussion/24704/got-my-vr-legs</ref>.

Since VR sickness and adaptation is a young phenomenon, there isn’t a general consensus about how long does it take to most people to acclimate to VR. It is expected that, as VR technology progresses, these problems will be surpassed, since a user should not have any period of sickness in which he has to persist to eventually adapt to the experience <ref name=”7”> VR Talk (2016). How long to get VR legs? Retrieved from http://vrtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?2327-HowLong-to-Get-VR-Legs</ref>.

Since VR sickness and adaptation is a young phenomenon, there isn’t a general consensus about how long does it take to most people to acclimate to VR. It is expected that, as VR technology progresses, these problems will be surpassed, since a user should not have any period of sickness in which he has to persist to eventually adapt to the experience <ref name=”7”> VR Talk (2016). How long to get VR legs? Retrieved from http://vrtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?2327-HowLong-to-Get-VR-Legs</ref>.