Investigating visual dominance with a virtual driving task

Most interactive input devices for virtual reality-based simulators are proprietary and expensive. Can they be substituted with standard, inexpensive devices if the virtual representation of the input device looks and acts like the original? Visual dominance theory would appear to support such a possibility. According to this view the visual aspects of the displayed input device within the virtual environment should override the haptic aspects of the real device. We tested this visual dominance theory in a VR power wheelchair simulator scenario comparing standard gaming and proprietary wheelchair joysticks in combinations with their virtual counterparts and measured the effects on driving performance and reported experience. In a study with 48 participants we found significant support for visual dominance effects on driving performance. At the same time, users reported awareness of the presence and change of real joysticks and virtual representations.