The Influence of a Low-Resolution Peripheral Display Extension on the Perceived Plausibility and Presence

March 2026

What is the paper about?

The paper explores how adding a low-resolution peripheral display (LED extension) to VR headsets, which expands the field of view (FoV), impacts users’ experience. The study focuses on whether this peripheral display influences users’ sense of presence, realism, and the perceived plausibility (how real and logical the environment feels) of VR experiences, especially in situations with inconsistencies like objects changing size or position unexpectedly.

What are the results?

The study found that while the LED extension expanded the FoV, it did not significantly improve users’ feelings of presence, spatial awareness, or perceived plausibility. It also didn’t increase VR sickness. However, in scenes where objects shifted or grew in unusual ways, users felt a greater “break in plausibility,” meaning the environment felt less plausible. Users generally found the LED extension distracting, with some experiencing mild discomfort from its brightness and flickering.

What are possible fields of application?

Applications could include VR-based training or gaming where users need enhanced awareness of their environment. This LED extension could be useful for tasks requiring quick situational awareness without fully focusing on the peripheral details, such as navigation or defense-based games, VR simulations for military training, or emergency response training where peripheral movement might indicate essential alerts.

How does the research in the paper contribute to shaping the metaverse?

The research adds insights into optimizing mixed-reality hardware for the metaverse. By studying how users react to an extended, though low-resolution, FoV, it highlights the importance of balancing immersion with sensory comfort. This study suggests that, for the metaverse to feel seamless and realistic, peripheral displays might need to be fine-tuned to avoid overwhelming users, ensuring that elements like lighting, refresh rates, and brightness contribute to—rather than detract from—the immersive experience.

Reference

Brübach, L., Röhm, M., Westermeier, F., Wienrich, C., & Latoschik, M. E. (2024). The Influence of a Low-Resolution Peripheral Display Extension on the Perceived Plausibility and Presence. Proceedings of the 30th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641825.3687713