Presence and immersion of "easy" mobile VR with open flip-on lenses

Abstract

Mobile virtual reality (M-VR) uses an inexpensive and light headset into which the smartphone is inserted to conveniently experience immersive contents. Even so the headset is bulky and difficult to carry around, and makes the smartphone inaccessible. Recently, an alternative form of M-VR has appeared in the market in which the magnifying lenses are simply clipped on the smartphone (dubbed EasyVR). Despite being open and the user'speripheral view not shut from the outside world, it still gives a good level of immersion with a wide magnified field of view. EasyVR has the added advantages of quick switch between with the regular smartphone usage mode and access to the touch screen for the seamless interaction. In this paper, we examine and compare the level of presence and immersion as provided by three different display configurations of M-VR: (1) EasyVR, (2) the usual headset which completely isolates the user from the outer-world with the vignetted view (ClosedVR), and (3) completely open hand-held smartphone view (OpenVR). We also control the environment condition, static or dynamic, as seen and perceived through the peripheral view and possibly having an effect on the level of presence and immersion in the respective display configuration. Our findings first show the easily expected, namely, both ClosedVR and EasyVR clearly exhibiting a much higher level of presence and immersion than OpenVR. The results also show that even though there is a substantial extent within the peripheral view showing the outer environment, the level of presence and immersion of EasyVR is nearly comparable to that of ClosedVR. Only when the environment was dynamic (as visible in the peripheral view ends), EasyVR showed a lower level of presence and immersion than ClosedVR, but still significantly higher than OpenVR. Therefore, EasyVR is a very attractive alternative to the usual ClosedVR, especially as a use-anywhere VR considering its clearly improved convenience and sufficient level of immersion beyond just for casual purposes.