Efficacy of Virtual Reality Training for Pilots: A Review of Links between User Presence, Search Task Performance, and Collaboration within Virtual Reality

Abstract

The impact of user presence on both collaboration and search task performance within virtual reality is not fully understood. The purpose was to review existing literature and determine what research has been conducted on user presence in virtual reality (VR), as well as what research has been conducted on how user presence in virtual reality influences a user’s communication abilities and performance on search tasks. The need for alternative means of pilot training, specifically the possibility of utilizing virtual reality, and the importance of understanding collaboration and search task performance for this training method were outlined. Future research into the efficacy of VR as a training tool for pilots should aim to fill in this gap and seek to understand how user presence in VR influences both communication and search task performance in a virtual cockpit environment.

Comparison of Cardiac Activity and Subjective Measures During Virtual Reality and Real Aircraft Flight

“…However, the use of VR as an operational learning tool still presents challenges [13] in terms of immersion, sense of presence [42], fatigue, and motion sickness [26]. Indeed, it is recognized that simulators do not reproduce the level of engagement that pilots may experience in real-world conditions [14,31].…”

Examining Learning Enjoyment, Presence, and Achievement Using a Virtual Reality Pathology Laboratory by Applying the CAMIL Model in Health Education

“…VR technology is used in the entertainment sector to provide interactive movies, virtual tours, and immersive gaming experiences (Billewar et al, 2022;Cruz-Neira et al, 2018). VR is also utilized in the training and treatment sectors to build simulations that let people practice skills in a secure and controlled environment, such as ight simulators for pilots (Labedan et al, 2021;Oh, 2020;Walters & Walton, 2021) or exposure therapy for those with phobias (Freitas et al, 2021). With the use of VR, educators also can recreate authentic situations like historical events (Argyriou et al, 2020) and medical procedures (Javaid & Haleem, 2020;Kan Yeung et al, 2021).…”