Constructing hermeneutical relations: a postphenomenological inquiry into immersive VR memory palaces

Abstract

While VR adaptations of the mnemonic Method of Loci (or the ‘Memory Palace’ technique) show promising results in increasing mnemonic capabilities, little to no research has explored the use and integration of Virtual Memory Palaces over time in a context of self-initiated studying. To explore the use of Virtual Memory Palaces (VMPs) contextually, we conducted an in-the-wild study where we gave ten participants a VR Head-Mounted Display through which they could access and furnish their VMP over eight weeks. We conducted go-along interviews in our participants’ VMPs at various intervals throughout the eight-week study, exploring their creations and querying them about their experience. Based on our findings, this article discusses individual and contextual factors that come into play when a VMP is approached as a personal project in the midst of an already-established study routine. We frame our study as a postphenomenological inquiry into the mediating effects of VMPs, where our primary interest lies in what relationship the students developed to the VMP.