WONDER -- Enhancing VR Training with Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Pfeiffer M, Kröger T, Seifert J, Somaskantharajan S, Jahnich L, Steinblum T, Speckamp J, Navas Medrano S

Abstract

Training employees on workplace procedures in virtual environments (VEs) is becoming popular since it reduces cost and risks. Although haptic enhancements with force feedback make such VEs more realistic and increase performance. Such enhancements are only available for 'spatial' scenarios. One potential enhancement for low-cost VEs is electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), but it remains open how EMS can be used to support trainees. Therefore we present WONDER: A virtual training environment with an EMS feedback enhancing layer. In an initial study, we show the feasibility of the approach and that it can successfully support trainees in remembering workflows. We test feedback that supports participants by pushing their hand towards a button or pulling their hand away from it. Participants preferred a combination of both feedback types.