Head Tracking Latency in Virtual Environments Revisited: Do Users with Multiple Sclerosis Notice Latency Less?

Latency (i.e., time delay) in a virtual environment is known to disrupt user performance, presence and induce simulator sickness. Thus, with emerging use of virtual rehabilitation, the target populations' latency perception thresholds need to be considered to fully understand and possibly control the implications of latency in a Virtual Rehabilitation environment. We present a study that quantifies the latency discrimination thresholds of a yet untested population - a specific subset of mobility impaired participants where participants suffer from Multiple Sclerosis - and compare the results to a control group of healthy participants. The study was modeled after previous latency discrimination research and shows significant differences in latency perception between the two populations with MS participants showing lower sensitivity to latency than healthy participants.