title: Obstacle crossing with lower visual field restriction: shifts in strategy.
abstract: In this study, the authors investigated how restriction of the vertical viewing angle influences obstacle-crossing behavior. Twelve participants stepped over obstacles of different dimensions while wearing visual-field-restricting goggles. Using full-body motion capture, several kinematic measures were extracted and analyzed. Results indicate that both a 40° and 90° vertical viewing angle yielded increased step length and toe clearance as compared to an unrestricted view (i.e., 135°), whereas speed remained unaltered. A further decrease (to 25°) caused participants to slow down in addition to a further increase of step length and toe clearance. These results are discussed in terms of a change in priorities, from conservation of energy and time to safety.
authors.affiliation: TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands. sander.jansen@tno.nl
authors.forename: Sander E M
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toet
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Werkhoven
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012449:Safety; D014794:Visual Fields