From: copley-devon@CS.YALE.EDU (Devon Copley)
Subject: Re: SCI:  Vr and Psychology
Date: 29 Oct 1992 14:31:17 -0500
Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept., New Haven, CT 06520-2158



The tendancy to exhibit physical responses (i.e., leaning forward/back
while moving through a virtual world) to visual stimuli seems to be
very robust, and occurs in many situations.  In particular, avoidance
of looming objects (something coming at your face quickly) has been
demonstrated in infants as young as two weeks, and even in _blind_
subjects fitted with "prosthetic vision" devices.  (These devices use
a digital camera system to produce a bitmap of vibrating pixels which
contact the blind subject's skin.)  Has anyone experienced the
avoidance response (ducking, raising hands to protect the face) in VR?
It should be reasonably easy to evoke.

Devon
copley-devon@cs.yale.edu