360-degree Virtual Reality Research Articles

Development of Immersive 360° Virtual Reality Videos for Intervention with Test Anxiety

This study explores the impact of 360-degree virtual reality (VR) videos on simulating test anxiety in students who already experience it. Using a phenomenological design, participants answered questions about their immersion in the virtual environment, including the realism of visuals, emotional responses, and adaptation. Seven students (four girls and three boys) were selected based on specific criteria, and the collected data underwent content analysis. Findings indicate that 360-degree VR videos effectively simulated test environments, creating a strong sense of realism and immersion. Participants reported that VR exposure elicited test anxiety symptoms similar to those experienced in real tests, with emotional distress intensifying during VR sessions. Test-anxious individuals noted that VR exposure triggered stronger emotional responses compared to imagination-based scenarios. While VR exposure proved effective in evoking realistic experiences and emotions, it was not deemed superior to real-life exposure techniques. This suggests that 360-degree VR has potential as a tool for anxiety interventions.

Empathy Through Immersion: The Impact of 360-Degree Virtual Reality on Fostering Perspective-Taking and Sense of Oneness in the Embodiment of a Sexual Harassment Victim.

Sexual harassment (SH) against women is one of the most worldwide problems. To mitigate its incidence, various programs, including virtual reality (VR), have been developed for both prevention and treatment. 360-degree video has emerged as a subfield of VR capable of inducing the body swap illusion and facilitating perspective-taking (PT), as well as eliciting related emotions. The present study represents a progression from a previously published work, featuring a within-subjects design approach that showed the superiority of the immersive video to elicit empathy compared to a control condition. The aim is to investigate and validate the feasibility of using 360-degree video to foster empathy, PT, and a sense of oneness, potentially reducing violent attitudes toward a female victim of SH compared with a traditional PT task (control condition) in a between-subjects design. Forty Mexican men were randomly assigned to one of the conditions. Results confirmed the feasibility of the 360-degree video in significantly enhancing PT and a sense of oneness compared with the control condition. However, no significant changes were observed for the variables of empathy and violent attitude. Moreover, the findings supported the potential of the 360-degree video in eliciting a sense of ownership and presence with the virtual character and the immersive environment, with ownership showing a positive correlation with empathy and PT. Lastly, participant body awareness was found to be a positive predictor of ownership. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Imaginative storytelling – novel immersive production practices and processes for mobile cinematic, interactive 360-degree and real-time VR

ABSTRACT This article adopts creative practice research to explore novel Virtual Reality (VR) production practices and processes for mobile cinematic VR (MCVR), parallel interactive narratives in VR (PIN VR) and real-time VR (RT VR). As a result of Creative Practice research, Imaginative Storytelling analyses and describes these original production approaches and processes for immersive storytelling and illustrates emerging aesthetic formations, which shape new imaginative experiences in VR. These diverse representations of VR are examined through three case studies, A New Dawn [A New Dawn. 2021. Dir. Schleser (VR). Australia. Swinburne University of Technology.], Table for Two [Table for Two. 2022. Dir. Remedios (VR). India. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad].) and Phases of Motion [Phases of Motion. 2021/2023. Dir. Berrett (VR). Australia. Swinburne University of Technology]. Each experience focuses on exploring innovative production processes for moile cinematic, interactive 360-degree and real-time VR. By means of outlining three distinctive approaches to VR production, contemporary developments and new directions in immersive storytelling are demonstrated. This research contributes to the expansion of storytelling and storyliving approaches in which navigators become co-creators of VR experiences.

Virtual Reality in planning, design, and management of urban green and blue infrastructure

There is a need for new tools in urban planning, design, and management (urban PDM) of green-blue infrastructure (GBI) to better support resilience and sustainable development. Virtual Reality (VR) emerges as a potential tool in this context. GBI provides a diversity of ecosystem services that increase the capacity of urban environments to absorb change while continuing to develop (adaptive capacity), a key factor in resilience and sustainability. However, there is a lack of tools capable of effectively capturing and communicating the designs, functions, and uses of GBI. Despite this need, research on the contributions of VR as a tool in urban PDM of GBI remains limited. To address this gap, an exploratory experiment using inductive qualitative data analysis was conducted. Participants of different ages and with different expertise viewed 360-degree video clips from urban areas through VR, completed a questionnaire, and participated in interviews. The results showed that the 360-degree video VR experience enhanced participants’ understanding of the viewed sites. Specifically, participants paid attention to details, captured the context, responded by generating emotional engagement, identified site development potential, and described an immersive experience. These results align with key principles for the sustainable management of ecosystem services, such as participation, learning, diversity, place-making, and stewardship; and adaptive capacity aspects such as processes and results grounded in complexity-embracing creativity. Our analysis shows that 360-degree video VR can increase the understanding of complexities, connections, and nuances in the urban environment. We conclude that 360-degree video VR could serve as a valuable complement to traditional tools in urban PDM, enriching decision-making with information that can support adaptive capacity, resilience, and sustainability.

Animated VR and 360-degree VR to assess and train team sports decision-making: a scoping review.

In team sports, athletes' ability to make quick decisions plays a crucial role. Decision-making proficiency relies on the intricate balance of athletes' perceptual and cognitive abilities, enabling them to assess the competitive environment swiftly and select the most appropriate actions from various options. Virtual reality (VR) technology is emerging as a valuable tool for evaluating and refining athletes' decision-making skills. This study systematically examined the integration of VR technology into decision-making processes in team sports, aiming to identify more effective methods for presenting and interacting with virtual decision-making systems, thus enhancing the evaluation and refinement of athletes' decision making abilities. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a thorough search of respected research databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and IEEE, was conducted using carefully selected keywords. Twenty research papers meeting predefined inclusion criteria were included after careful evaluation. These papers were systematically analyzed to delineate the attributes of virtual decision-making task environments, the interactive dynamics inherent in motor decision-making tasks, and the significant findings. This review indicate that (1) the effectiveness of VR technology in assessing and improving athletes' decision-making skills in team sports; (2) the construction of virtual environments using the Head-Mounted Display (HMD) system, characterized by enhanced ease and efficiency; (3) the potential for future investigations to explore computer simulations to create more expansive virtual motion scenarios, thus efficiently generating substantial task scenario material, diverging from the constraints posed by 360-degree panoramic videos; and (4) the integration of motion capture technology for identifying and monitoring athletes' decision-making behaviors, which not only enhances ecological validity but also augments the transfer validity of virtual sports decision-making systems. Future research endeavors could explore integrating eye-tracking technology with virtual reality to gain insights into the intrinsic cognitive-action associations exhibited by athletes.

360-degree virtual reality video to teach neonatal resuscitation: an exploratory development study

Simulation is an effective training method for neonatal resuscitation (NR). However, the limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and other resource constraints, have necessitated exploring alternatives. Virtual reality (VR), particularly 360-degree VR videos, have gained attraction in medical training due to their immersive qualities. The primary objectives of the study were to produce a high quality 360-degree virtual reality (VR) video capturing NR simulation and to determine if it could be an acceptable adjunct to teach NR. The secondary objective was to determine which aspects of NR could benefit from the incorporation of such a video in training. This was an exploratory development study. The first part consisted of producing the video using a GoPro action camera, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Unity Editor. In the second part participants were recruited, based on level of experience, to watch the video and answer questionnaires to determine acceptability (user experience and cognitive load) and aspects of NR which could benefit from the video. The video was successfully developed. Forty-six participants showed a strong general appreciation. User experience revealed high means (> 6) in the positive subscales and low means (< 4) for immersion side effect, with no difference between groups. Cognitive load was higher than anticipated. Participants indicated that this video could be effective for teaching crisis resource management principles, human and environment interactions, and procedural skills. The 360-degree VR video could be a potential new simulation adjunct for NR. Future studies are needed to evaluate learning outcomes of such videos.

Immersive Technology and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Smart Cities

Research currently focuses on immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). However, there is limited exploration of their application in sustainable smart cities with Building Information Modeling (BIM), and there remains a lack of interdisciplinary integration within this domain aimed at fostering sustainable smart city development. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the development status of immersive technology and BIM in sustainable smart cities, identifying trends and research hotspots by employing a triangulation research method mixed with a quantitative method via bibliometric analysis and a qualitative method via content analysis to investigate the relationship between immersive technologies and BIM in sustainable smart cities. The results reveal a fragmented nature in the research on immersive technology and BIM in sustainable smart cities, with rapidly changing hotspots and new technologies following a cyclical pattern every 3 to 5 years. Two distinct cycles of growth were observed in the field over the last 10 years (2014–2023). The first cycle, from 2014 to 2017, represented modest growth, while the second cycle, from 2018 to 2022, showed rapid expansion, with the keywords AR, VR, MR, BIM, smart city, and smart city concept indicating the research hotspots. Immersive technologies and BIM, developed since 2017, have contributed to sustainable smart city construction. The emerging keywords AR, MR, and 360-degree VR have become research hotspots since 2021, particularly in collaborative construction. Future research trends include artificial intelligence, digitalization, AR, and MR, while building sustainability and intelligent construction have emerged as real-world applications. Additionally, this paper employs software tools to generate multidimensional knowledge maps to form a knowledge universe map at a “macro-knowledge” level followed by a “micro-knowledge” level comprising a standard knowledge system, such as lifecycle analysis, enhancing the objectivity and organization of the results and providing innovative references for future research.

Virtual reality as an engaging and enjoyable method for delivering emergency clinical simulation training: a prospective, interventional study of medical undergraduates

BackgroundIt is a requirement that medical students are educated in emergencies and feel well prepared for practice as a doctor, yet national surveys show that many students feel underprepared. Virtual reality (VR), combined with 360-degree filming, provides an immersive, realistic, and interactive simulation experience. Unlike conventional in-person simulation, it is scalable with reduced workforce demands. We sought to compare students’ engagement and enjoyment of VR simulation to desktop computer-based simulation.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, interventional, evaluation study. The study was carried out on final year medical students undertaking their Pre-Foundation Assistantship (n = 116) at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in London. We compared objective engagement, subjective engagement, and subjective enjoyment of VR simulation to desktop computer-based simulation using cardiac arrest and life-threatening asthma scenarios. Engagement was measured objectively using students’ physiological parameters, including heart rate and eye tracking, and facilitator observations using the validated ‘Behavioural Engagement Related to Instruction’ (BERI) protocol. Students’ subjective engagement and enjoyment levels were measured using a post-session survey.ResultsStudents’ maximum heart rates were significantly higher during VR simulation with a mean difference of 4.2 beats per minute (3.2 to 5.2, p < 0.001), and eye tracking showed they spent a significantly greater mean percentage of time of 6.4% (5.1 to 7.7, p < 0.001) focusing on the scenarios in VR compared to standard desktop. Qualitative data showed students enjoyed and felt engaged with the sessions, which provided a safe space for learning.ConclusionsOur study shows that students found VR simulations enjoyable and were more engaged compared to standard desktop simulation. This suggests that 360-degree VR simulation experiences provide students with immersive, realistic training, which is scalable, giving them the unique opportunity to manage emergencies and work within emergency teams, which would not typically occur during traditional training.

The nose cooperates with the eyes: The independent and interactive effects of vision and olfaction on the perceived restorativeness of a Metasequoia walkway

In response to worldwide calls for promoting health and well-being, there is growing interest in creating restorative environments. Although restorative environments can be perceived by multiple sensory modalities, visual studies dominated the majority of restorative research, while olfaction is a frequently overlooked yet important sense. Grounded in Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and cross-modal interaction of olfaction and vision, this research seeks to investigate the independent and interactive effects of vision and olfaction on the perceived restorativeness of a Metasequoia walkway in urban green space. The visual stimulus was a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) tour in a 200-meter-long Metasequoia walkway, and the olfactory stimulus was Metasequoia essential oil extracted from the tree leaves. Based on a stress recovery experiment, 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control, vision, olfaction, and combination. Psychological evaluations (semantic differential scale [SDS] and perceived restorativeness scale [PRS]) and physiological measurements (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], heart rate [HR] and blood oxygen level [BOL]) were used as indicators of restorative effects. The findings reveal that a combination of visual and olfactory stimulation can contribute more to restorative effects compared to a single stimulus, in terms of both physiological and psychological indicators. This calls for a greater focus on the effects of vision and olfaction towards more sustainable landscape design and management.

Suite test. A virtual reality based neuropsychological assessment tool for memory. A normative study on immediate, short-term and delayed memory tasks

Objective To collect normative data for the Suite test, a virtual reality (VR) tool designed to assess memory processes. Method The normative sample included 676 subjects (49.7% female), aged from 12 to 85 years. The Suite test comprises a 360-degree VR environment designed as a furniture shop, in which participants must group specific sets of furniture items (ordered by different families of customers) by clicking on the furniture to be packed following instructions from a voice-over. Results Core variables provided were grouped into immediate, short-term and long-term delayed recall. Cluster analyses established five age groups (12 years old, 13 to 26, 27 to 44, 45 to 58, and 59 to 85) with gender differentiated norms only deemed necessary for those transitioning from adolescence to adulthood (13 to 26) and from middle age to older adulthood (45 to 58). No statistically significant differences were found for additional gender × age normative groups, or for any group differentiated by educational level. A confirmatory factor analysis raised the existence of two differentiated factors, one associated to encoding processes (immediate memory trials) and the other to retrieval processes (both short term and long-term delayed recall trials grouping into the same factor). Additional results on the test reliability and internal consistency are presented. Conclusions Suite Test can help explore memory deficits across the life span and differentiate between visual and verbal memory strategies. Further research is required to study the test sensitivity and specificity, as well as convergent validity studies with well-established memory assessment tools.

The influence of 360-degree VR videos on tourism web usage behaviour: the role of web navigability and visual interface design quality

Purpose Using the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theoretical model, this empirical research aims to examine and validate how tourists’ interactions with 360-degree virtual reality (VR) videos incorporating Web navigability and visual interface design quality (stimulus) on travel websites can make tourists more engaged and then satisfied (organism), which could make them more likely to visit destinations and spread electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) (response). Design/methodology/approach Using the convenience sampling method, 975 responses were collected through a questionnaire. The data were analysed using Smart-PLS 4 software to investigate the hypothesised relationships. Findings The findings demonstrate that 360-degree VR videos significantly create Web user engagement, and Web user engagement is significantly associated with Web user satisfaction. The result shows that Web user engagement and satisfaction impact the intention to visit the tourist destination. Additionally, Web user satisfaction impacts e-WOM. Lastly, navigability and visual interface design quality are significantly moderated between 360-degree VR videos and Web user engagement. Research limitations/implications This research only examined the tourists’ behavioural intentions with 360-degree VR videos during the pre-travel phase. In contrast, future research may investigate how tourists behave with VR during the on-site and post-travel phases. Practical implications Tourism marketers should not only adopt 360-degree VR but also integrate Web navigability and visual interface design to boost Web users’ engagement on tourism websites. Originality/value This study advances the study of VR from the tourists’ psychological perspective. Moreover, the SOR theory has been re-examined from the VR and technology tourism perspectives. It provides a general understanding of the behavioural aspects of tourists in developing countries.

Assessing the moderating effects of involvement on tourist attitudes and intentions through virtual reality applications

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the impact of various preview modes on tourist attitudes and intentions to visit a destination based on consumers’ level of involvement in travel decision-making.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted as a between-subjects one-factor [preview mode: static images vs 360-degree tour vs virtual reality (VR) mode] in a laboratory experiment setup to examine how consumers with different levels of involvement in travel decision-making respond to destination marketing toward three different preview modes.FindingsThe findings indicated that VR preview mode highly influences tourist attitudes and visit intentions toward a destination compared to static images and 360-degree tours. This effect is more significant among participants with higher levels of customer involvement. Finally, the results from the study offer empirical evidence of the effectiveness of VR in shaping user behavior compared to traditional preview modes.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations are using a non-probability sampling method, a small sample size and affordable mobile-compatible VR headsets.Practical implicationsThis study offers empirical evidence on the effectiveness of VR in shaping tourist behavior compared to traditional preview modes. It helps destination marketers develop appropriate strategies for promoting tourist destinations.Originality/valueThe novelty of this paper lies in understanding the effectiveness of VR in shaping tourist behavior with different levels of customer involvement in travel decision-making.

‘It Feels Really Vulnerable and a Little Dangerous’: When Words Are Not Enough

ABSTRACT Imagine being given the immense responsibility and gift as a researcher to deliver a person’s final nature experience. People living with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often sheltered from nature experiences due to their disease status; however, they have rich memories of past nature experiences. The goals of this overall journey of co-creation were two-fold: (1) co-create personalized nature-based utilizing immersive 360-degree virtual reality (VR) experiences based on participants’ experiences in outdoor spaces; (2) utilize a narrative approach to explore the lived realities of people living with severe COPD. Throughout this collaborative research process, I made home visits, phone calls, and many trips to four people’s personalized outdoor places in the Upstate of South Carolina. In doing so, I lived the experience of person-centered research. This essay focuses specifically on one participant, David, his wife and caregiver, Anne, and the co-creation of David’s last virtual trip to his most cherished places in nature. Re-gifting David’s last nature experience in his favorite outdoor places profoundly changed my research approach. This essay considers how I reconciled the disconnect between the “scientific” language used in health research and the lived experience of being a researcher during end-of-life processes, specifically attending to the terms: attrition, participant, and researcher.

Black Hauntography as Critical Memory: Visualizing Absent Infrastructures in Virtual Reality

In this article, I consider the role of emerging digital media technologies in contexts where a scarcity of memory infrastructure contributes to the marginalization of historical figures, places, or events. To do so, I examine Red Summers, a collection of 360-degree virtual reality (360 VR) documentaries that bring to light the impact of domestic White supremacist terrorism on Black communities in incidents across the U.S. occurring between 1917 and 1921. I argue the series relies on a strategy of visual cultural production I deem Black hauntography, which capacities collective acts of critical memory by directing audience visions toward the multiple layers of infrastructural absences left in the aftermath of racial violence. I trace how the series produces a memory of loss which may mediate more truthful, inspired encounters with the weight of history, thereby operating as a critical memory infrastructure suitable for amending amnesiac relations to past injustice.

Virtual reality and tourism destinations marketing: can it transform travel? evaluating the impact of immersive experiences on travel intentions

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between the immersive VR experience, destination cognitive image, destination affective image, and tourists’ travel intention. The sample of this research is 167 visitors of three tourist attractions of Isfahan Province in Iran, through 360-degree virtual reality videos. In order to collect research data, an online survey and convenience sampling methods were used. PLS-SEM was utilised to assess both the measurement and structural models. The findings indicated that among factors of external technical environment stimuli, media richness has a stronger effect on the formation of the destination's cognitive image than the affective image. Also, perceived interactivity compared to media richness has a significant impact on the formation of the destination's affective image. In addition, vision consistency as an internal technical environment stimulus has a positive effect on the formation of the cognitive and affective image of the destination. Finally, the affective image of the destination resulting from the immersive VR experience has a stronger effect on travel intention than the cognitive image.

Patient Outcomes of a Virtual Reality-Based Music Therapy Pilot in Palliative Care.

Hospitalized patients with palliative care needs often have high levels of physical and psychological symptom distress. Virtual reality (VR) with a music therapy intervention may improve physical and psychological symptoms. To assess symptom distress and quality of life (QOL) among hospitalized palliative care patients who participated in a virtual reality-based music therapy (VR-MT) intervention, and to explore VR-MT from the perspectives of health care professionals involved in their care. Single-arm pilot study of a two-day VR-MT intervention. Patients seen by an inpatient palliative care consultation service at a U.S. hospital could participate in the VR-MT intervention. Participants created a customized soundtrack with a music therapist and then listened to it while experiencing a 360-degree VR nature-based environment of their choice. Patients completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, revised version (ESAS-r) and McGill Quality of Life, revised version (MQOL-R) before and after VR-MT. Members of the participants' health care teams were interviewed. Seventeen patients completed VR-MT (range 20-79 years of age, 59% women). Moderate clinical improvements were observed for total ESAS-r score (Cohen's d effect size, 0.68), physical distress subscale (0.52), and psychological distress subscale (0.60); small improvements were observed in total MQOL-r score (0.26) and the existential subscale (0.27). Health care team members described the value of VR-MT as facilitating meaningful conversations. This pilot study of VR combined with a music therapy intervention for hospitalized patients with palliative care needs supports opportunities for future study of potential improvements in symptom distress and QOL.

360-Degree Virtual Reality Utilising Head-Mounted Devices in Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Education: A Scoping Review

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is a promising tool for improving the teaching and learning of nursing and midwifery students. However, the preexisting literature does not comprehensively examine scenario development, theoretical underpinnings, duration, and debriefing techniques. The aim of this review was to assess the available evidence of how 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) utilising head-mounted devices has been used in undergraduate nursing and midwifery education programmes and to explore the potential pedagogical value based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across five databases. All studies published in English between 2007–2022 were included, regardless of design, if the focus was undergraduate nursing and midwifery programmes and utilised fully immersive 360-degree VR scenarios. Out of an initial pool of 1700 articles, 26 were selected for final inclusion. The findings indicated a limited diversity in scenario design, with only one study employing a participatory approach. Within the Kirkpatrick model, the most measurable outcomes were found at level 2. The main drawback observed in interventional studies was the absence of a theoretical framework and debriefing. The review concludes that the increased use of fully IVR in nursing education has improved student learning outcomes; however, published literature on midwifery education is scarce.

Technical Analysis and Development Advantages of Online Virtual Exhibition from the Digital Technology Perspective

Institutions and peoples lives have been impacted by public health initiatives to contain the COVID-19 virus. The outbreak may qualify as a mega event due to its potential for global impact and transformation. The contemporary art world has especially felt the impact of the epidemic, as the entire cultural activity has been suspended due to the outbreak, including exhibitions and museums of various themes. During this period, art institutions and collectives around the world have responded by providing alternative materials for artistic works through various technological technologies and online. Emerging, high-tech methods such as multimedia art are applied to display design to help the art world continue to develop during the pandemic. This article aims to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of online virtual exhibitions of contemporary art. From the case analysis of 3 online exhibitions (2 museums, 1 art biennale), analyze the development advantages of online virtual exhibitions. Most online virtual exhibitions can use virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), Fabric VR projects, including: 3D Fabric VR, 360-degree Fabric VR, a network-based digital collection system, and other technologies to enhance the exhibition experience. And create related websites or apps to allow visitors to visit online exhibitions. These studies will contribute to a broad understanding of existing online virtual exhibitions, including the technologies used and future application development.

Self-Administered Virtual Reality for Postsurgical Pain Management: A Qualitative Study of Hospital Patients' Reported Experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR) has been shown to effectively reduce pain in patients with various pain conditions. However, questions arise on the use of VR in multimodal postsurgical pain management. Optimizing VR for pain management requires an understanding of intervention- and context-specific factors, based on patients' needs and expectations after major surgery. This substudy is part of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of three VR interventions as an add-on, self-administered treatment for postsurgical pain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to evaluate VR effects, software, hardware, prescriptions, and factors affecting the implementation of VR. Experiences across interventions were compared to identify relevant factors for successful implementation. Patients benefitted from self-administered VR in postsurgical pain management in various aspects and without serious drawbacks. Participants preferred an intuitive, 3D, 360-degree VR device with a large choice of applications matching their interests. The preferred frequency and duration of VR use was 2-3 sessions a day for 10-15 min each. Adjusting the VR use to individuals' needs and contexts was reported to be key for successful implementation, with attention paid to improving the awareness of VR as a non-pharmacological means of promoting postsurgical recovery among patients and healthcare professionals.

DOES THE EMPATHY MACHINE MAKE JOURNALISM STUDENTS COMPASSIONATE? AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

In 360-degree virtual reality, news stories put the user (who consumes news through a head-mounted display) inside the story. The present study tries to find out whether select 360-degree video documentaries make the users empathize with the story, situation, and people involved in the story. On the other hand, in the news media, journalists and documentary filmmakers work hard to get the news out to the public. People who read the news have to understand how journalists present the news. In 360-degree documentaries, there is no such boundary. This is why the current study is significant in determining how the users feel about the documentaries they watch using virtual reality headsets (HMDs). The current study also tried to find out if there was a difference in the level of compassion between the control group and the experimental group after watching a 360-degree VR documentary. It also looked at how the empathy machine affected the level of compassion of both male and female journalism students. This study used a quantitative approach and a questionnaire that the participants filled out on their own. The respondents who belong to the experimental group and who filled out the pre-test questionnaire were asked to use VR headsets (Oculus Quest 2) to watch a 360-degree documentary. The control group respondents were asked to watch the content using mobile phones.