Effects of Stair Geometry and Surrounding Factors on Perceived Vertical Ascending Distance

Abstract

Stair design involves not only physical attributes such as form and material but also psychological factors that shape users’ perceptual experiences. However, empirical studies focusing on the perception of upward movement during stair ascent remain limited. This study examines how stair configuration and surrounding environmental factors influence the sense of upward movement, quantified as Perceived height, using an immersive virtual environment.Five factors were manipulated: WIDTH, WALL, TYPE, MATERIAL, and WALKING SPEED. Participants ascended virtual stairs corresponding to a 10-step staircase. After each ascent, they reproduced the vertical distance they perceived having ascended by adjusting the height of a virtual object, which was defined as Perceived height.As a result, WIDTH exerted the strongest influence on Perceived height. The 1200 mm width condition produced a significantly smaller Perceived height than the 1500 mm condition, whereas no significant differences were observed between the 900 mm and 1200 mm conditions or between the 900 mm and 1500 mm conditions. No significant effects were found for WALL, TYPE, MATERIAL, or WALKING SPEED.Overall, the results indicate that stair width independently modulates perceptual scaling during ascent. In particular, medium-width stairs may attenuate the perceived magnitude of vertical movement relative to wider stairs, highlighting stair width as an important design parameter for shaping psychological experiences of vertical movement.

Keywords: Distance Perception, Stairs, Sense Of Ascent, Virtual Environment

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007950