Recommendations for Design Ergonomics in VR-based Cognitive Assessment Applications

Abstract

Cognitive assessment procedures tend to use virtual reality (VR) systems to create stimulating environments for task performance in an immersive virtual world. Therefore, the usability and well-being aspects that determine the effectiveness of these assessments are global ergonomic aspects. This research aims to fill this research gap by examining some of the most important ergonomic aspects, which have a direct impact on the validity and reliability of cognitive assessments in VR. We included literature related to the issue of cognition in immersive applications that presented the ergonomic aspects in question by performing a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature on the topic, paying particular attention to the three strands of computer ergonomics: physical specifications (such as headset weight and balance), system-related specifications or organizational specifications (any aspect that informs us about system performance or user interface design), and cognition-related specifications (such as mental load and fatigue limits). In turn, by focusing on these ergonomic specifications, cognitive assessments in VR are envisioned to be more effective, comfortable, and accessible to a wider audience, thus improving their potential use in clinical and educational settings and providing reliable and valid results to therapists.