Subtle Sensing: Detecting Differences in the Flexibility of Virtually Simulated Molecular Objects
This addresses the problem of understanding human sensory perception in VR for applications in molecular simulation, though it is incremental as it builds on prior observations.
The study investigated whether participants could detect differences in the flexibility of VR-simulated molecular objects without haptic feedback, finding that interactive manipulation enhanced their detection capacity compared to passive observation.
During VR demos we have performed over last few years, many participants (in the absence of any haptic feedback) have commented on their perceived ability to 'feel' differences between simulated molecular objects. The mechanisms for such 'feeling' are not entirely clear: observing from outside VR, one can see that there is nothing physical for participants to 'feel'. Here we outline exploratory user studies designed to evaluate the extent to which participants can distinguish quantitative differences in the flexibility of VR-simulated molecular objects. The results suggest that an individual's capacity to detect differences in molecular flexibility is enhanced when they can interact with and manipulate the molecules, as opposed to merely observing the same interaction. Building on these results, we intend to carry out further studies investigating humans' ability to sense quantitative properties of VR simulations without haptic technology.