Attention computing for enhanced visuomotor skill performance: Testing the effectiveness of gaze-adaptive cues in virtual reality golf putting

This work explored how immersive technologies like virtual reality can be exploited for improved motor learning. While virtual reality is becoming a practical replacement for training that is otherwise expensive, dangerous, or inconvenient to deliver, virtual simulations can also enhance the learnin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Multimedia tools and applications Vol. 83; no. 21; pp. 60861 - 60879
Main Authors:	Harris, David, Donaldson, Ross, Bray, Max, Arthur, Tom, Wilson, Mark, Vine, Sam
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	New York Springer US 04-01-2024 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Adaptive control Augmented Reality Computation Computer Communication Networks Computer Science Data Structures and Information Theory Golf balls Kinematics Learning Multimedia Information Systems Special Purpose and Application-Based Systems Track 4: Digital Games Virtual environments Virtual Reality Eye movement training Eye movement modelling Attention computing Adaptive VR Attention
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Summary:	This work explored how immersive technologies like virtual reality can be exploited for improved motor learning. While virtual reality is becoming a practical replacement for training that is otherwise expensive, dangerous, or inconvenient to deliver, virtual simulations can also enhance the learning process. Based on the concept of ‘attention computing’, we developed and tested a novel ‘gaze-adaptive’ training method within a virtual putting environment augmented with eye and motion tracking. To our knowledge, this work is the first application of attention computing and adaptive virtual reality to sports skill training. Novice golfers were randomly assigned to either standard putting practice in virtual reality (control) or gaze-adaptive training conditions. For gaze-adaptive training, the golf ball was sensitive to the participant’s gaze and illuminated when fixated upon, to prompt longer and more stable pre-shot fixations. We recorded the effect of these training conditions on task performance, gaze control, and putting kinematics. Gaze-adaptive training was successful in generating more expert-like gaze control and putting kinematics, although this did not transfer to improved performance outcomes within the abbreviated training paradigm. These findings suggest that gaze-adaptive environments can enhance visuomotor learning and may be a promising method for augmenting virtual training environments.
ISSN:	1573-7721 1380-7501 1573-7721
DOI:	10.1007/s11042-023-17973-4