This discussion seeks insights into acceptable latency thresholds across various MR use cases, such as object interaction, tracking, and passthrough rendering. Contributions from both research and industry perspectives are welcome.
Acceptable latency for real-time Mixed Reality (MR) applications is crucial for ensuring user comfort and immersion. Research indicates that:
Under 20 milliseconds: Ideal for seamless interactions and immersion. This low latency is particularly important for applications requiring precise user movements and real-time feedback.
Under 50 milliseconds: Generally acceptable for most MR applications, including collaborative environments and training simulations. Beyond this threshold, users may begin to perceive delays, potentially affecting the experience.
Under 100 milliseconds: May still be acceptable for certain applications, such as non-interactive media consumption. However, latency above this level can lead to noticeable lag and may cause discomfort or disorientation.
For a detailed, research-backed perspective, you can refer to these papers:
"Latency and Cybersickness: Impact, Causes, and Measures. A Review" (Frontiers in Virtual Reality): Discusses the impact of latency on user experience and cybersickness in VR and MR applications. Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2020.582204/fullFrontiers
"Scene Synchronization for Real-Time Interaction in Distributed Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality Environments" (arXiv): Explores the challenges of maintaining a consistent view in distributed MR/VR systems affected by network latency. Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.03322arXiv
"Towards Ultra-Low-Latency mmWave Wi-Fi for Multi-User Interactive Virtual Reality" (arXiv): Investigates the feasibility of achieving ultra-low-latency communication for multi-user VR applications using mmWave Wi-Fi. Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.12086arXiv+1ACM Digital Library+1
These references provide a deeper dive into the technical aspects of latency in MR and VR systems, supporting the guidelines for optimal user experience.