Evaluation of the softness and its impression of visual stimuli in VR space

To examine the softness and impression of visual objects in VR (Virtual Reality) space, the impression of the visual stimuli in VR space was measured using the subjective evaluation of a seven-rank scale by changing with each the value of the deformation resistance of the stimuli, of shapes, and colors. The value of the deformation resistance of the stimuli expresses the degree of deformation to return to the original of the object when touching it in VR space. The lower value indicates the larger deformation like pudding and the higher one is the smaller one like thick rubber they were used three types of values lower and higher, and no-deformation of the objects. The shapes of objects as the stimuli were three shapes (sphere, cube, pyramid). The colors of the stimuli were selected from five colors (red, green, green, gray, and white) and they have used two types of the feeling of materials (matte and metallic) in each color. Ten participants were asked to subjectively evaluate the softness and impression of the stimulus. In the results, the evaluation changes from soft to hard by increasing the values of deformation resistance in all the stimuli in VR space. It is suggested that the degree of the deformation to return to the original can express the softness of objects when touching them in VR space even though the user does not touch them physically. It also discussed the relationship between softness and its impression of the stimuli in VR space.