Introduction: Anti Motion Sickness Cover for VR Headset (HTC Vive)

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About: I like to experiment

HTC (and other VR headset producers) has made a lot of efforts to minimize motion sickness during VR-playing by using different techniques and high frame rate. Many people still suffer from it though, some more sensitive than others. There are some methods you can try to make it more comfortable, listed below, and one of them is to reduce the field of view. Some applications support this natively, like google earth, but most don't.

That's why I invented this very simple paper template that you put inside the headset. It simply physically obscure the view and reduce field of view. Some people claim it's the blurriness around the peripheral that causes dizziness and this method solves that.

I have not done any research but it helps a lot for me at least! It's not as nice as without but I can use VR now at work without getting sick. Should work with most games as well.

List of other methods to try that I found here:

  • Avoid playing racing games or any other game that rapidly throws you around.
  • Eating right before using VR tends to increase motion sickness as well. Ignore that.
  • You can actually ‘build up’ a tolerance over time and be less susceptible to motion sickness once you get used to it.
  • Search for field of view options. Lower fields of view help with motion sickness
  • Ginger tablets aid with nausea and motion sickness
  • After you have had a motion sickness, sleeping is best because it lets your inner ears completely reset themselves.
  • Just before putting on the HTC Vive headset, consume a couple of beers, sounds like a weird option but some people have reported it doing wonders for them.
  • Getting a bad frame rate can also make you easily sick, if you get yourself a beefy computer nausea can be reduced.

Another useful article provided by jmsallo: combating-vr-sickness-debunking-myths-and-learning-what-really-works

On to next page to get my super template!

Step 1: Downloads and Instructions

I've made different templates for different eye distances. Use same or closest one to your setting on the actual headset. There are also three different sizes for the holes. Smaller holes helps more but also make the vision narrow.

Instruction:

  1. Download included HTC_Vive_Template.zip
  2. Unzip
  3. Print on A4 paper (thick paper is better). Make sure to set scale to "actual" or 100%.
  4. Control measure distance, widest part should be 153 mm
  5. Cut the paper (sharp blade is easiest around the holes)
  6. Mount in headset, make sure the holes are aligned with the center of the lenses

I guess one can experiment with different paper like half transparent to let some light through. Maybe this can be used to train yourself, start with the smallest hole and go bigger until you don't need it at all. I also included the Rhino file if you want to adjust it or make for another headset.

I don't have a Oculus rift or any other vr headset at this time and thus can't construct and test the template. If anyone wants to help me then I will put it up here and mention your name!

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