Study of First and Third Person Viewpoints in Virtual Environments: Physiological and Performance Measurements

Studies on virtual reality and their relationship with human factors have been limited in Indonesia. Yet, in the context of Industry 4.0, the concept of virtualization places 3D simulation at the forefront of project decision-making. Physical ergonomics and physiology explore how the human body responds to external stimuli, encompassing factors like heart rate, brain waves, fatigue levels, and overall performance. These elements are critical because they influence interactions within the work system. In this study, we conducted two experiments to investigate user perspectives within virtual environments, specifically focusing on first- and third-person viewpoints. The first experiment assessed the impact of these viewpoints on the user's physiological factors, including heart and brain wave patterns. The results indicated that participants did not experience a significant increase in workload based on heart and brain wave data, and they reported no symptoms, as indicated by a symptom questionnaire. In the second experiment, participants were exposed to a critical simulation video from both first- and third-person viewpoints. The results revealed that the first-person perspective significantly improved task completion time within the simulation. These findings are essential for stakeholders in the field of virtual reality, helping them determine when to employ first- or third-person viewpoints in their applications.