Effects of Mini-Map Usage and Spatial Ability on Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Navigation

Navigation is a core task in VR that must be well supported. Interface choices shape task performance (e.g., search), viewing experience, and the sense of presence and immersion. Mini-maps are widely recommended and often help with these goals. However, the mini-map may also increase mental and physical workload and may even cause discomfort, exacerbating the already-likely-to-exist cybersickness. In this work, we compare two virtual navigation conditions, one with the mini-map and the other without, to investigate and reexamine their various effects, especially on cybersickness, an important and overlooked aspect of the VR experience. While the experiment reconfirmed the previously known fact that the map could enhance search task/navigational performance, it also caused or worsened cybersickness symptoms, especially for those possessing relatively lesser spatial abilities. The results indicate the need to revise the interaction design guidelines in VR regarding the pros and cons of using mini-maps for navigation and search.