Addressing Empty Space Myopia to Enable Deep Space Travel with Extended Reality Auditory Biofeedback

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Empty space myopia is a phenomenon that has been observed in pilots when flying in the open sky. Previous research has been conducted to develop training biofeedback devices to help pilot visual accommodation in empty skies. During future long-duration spaceflight, astronauts may also experience empty space myopia due to prolonged periods of time in vast space. Extended reality is a relatively novel technology that has emerged as a powerful tool for tracking ocular movements. Extended reality with auditory feedback may serve as a low-cost, easily applicable method to improve ciliary muscle control and vision during long-duration spaceflight to combat empty space myopia. In this paper, we review the effects of empty field myopia in space and report on the novel development of extended reality with auditory biofeedback as a potential astronaut training tool.

Authors

• Waisberg, Ethan Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Ong, Joshua Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Zaman, Nasif Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Paladugu, Phani Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Kamran, Sharif Amit Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Markovitz, Bruce Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lee, Andrew G. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Tavakkoli, Alireza Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• terrestrial analog
• augmented reality
• spaceflight
• g-transitions
• vestibulo-ocular dysfunction
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Physiology