Desktop Virtual Research Articles

Evaluating User Experience in the Context of Cultural Heritage Dissemination Using Extended Reality: A Case Study of the Dacian Bronze Matrix with Hollow Design

Cultural institutions are increasingly prioritizing the utilization of diverse mixed reality technologies to enrich the visitor experience during their physical exhibitions. These institutions are actively integrating virtual assets to enhance interactivity and facilitate immersive storytelling experiences. The use of extended reality technologies in cultural heritage dissemination has become a common solution to improve the perception on cultural heritage of their visitors. The objective of the proposed research is to conduct a comparative analysis of three distinct extended reality applications used in cultural heritage experiences. The proposed workflow integrates advanced 3D scanning technology and additive manufacturing techniques to produce tangible replicas which are further enhanced using extended reality technologies, such as augmented reality, desktop virtual reality, and immersive virtual reality. To evaluate the developed extended reality applications, we have conducted various System Usability Scale tools to assess applications’ usability while also trying to identify the most appropriate application that can be integrated within the museum exhibition. From a utility point of view, we found no notable differences in the user perceptions between proposed solutions, whereas from a usability and satisfaction point of view, the most preferred solution was the augmented reality one. The workflow is presented in sufficient detail to ensure the replication of the results.

Historical architecture pedagogy meets virtual technologies: A comparative case study

The immersive experience and diverse interaction modes provided by virtual digital technology match the spatial sensitivity and practical ability required in the field of architectural teaching, and its technological advantages can significantly enhance teaching outcomes. However, in the field of architecture teaching, there has been a lack of discussion on the suitability of different virtual technologies and teaching scenarios for historical buildings. Therefore, this study constructed a comprehensive adaptive evaluation system for virtual technology and selected 360-degree panoramic technology (360-degree PT), Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) technology, and Desktop Virtual Reality (DVR) technology as representatives for empirical study. The research method used in this experiment is a questionnaire survey, involving a total of 60 students majoring in architecture and planning, with a certain foundation in historical architecture knowledge. Multiple statistical methods are employed to analyze the data. The experimental data indicates that IVR technology performs the best in terms of learning outcomes, learning autonomy, and sense of presence, making it suitable for immersive and interactive learning needs. 360-degree PT demonstrates the best perception of architectural features, catering to the demand for visual effects. DVR technology exhibits the highest learning efficiency, meeting the need for simplicity, efficiency, and widespread application. On the other hand, augmented reality (AR) technology and mixed reality (MR) technology have lower adaptability and do not meet the learning requirements for immersive spatial experiences. This study is expected to provide a new technical pathway for teaching historical buildings and serve as a systematic reference for selecting specific technologies.

Desktop Virtual Reality Offers a Novel Approach to Minimize Pain and Anxiety during Burn Wound Cleaning/Debridement in Infants and Young Children: A Randomized Crossover Pilot Study.

Although most scald burn injuries involve children under six, because of the challenges of using head mounted displays with young children there is very little research exploring the use of VR in children under six. The current clinical pilot study measured the analgesic effectiveness of our new desktop VR system (with no VR helmet) in children under six during burn wound care (a within-subjects design with randomized treatment order). Between December 2021-April 2022, nine children with burn injuries (10 months to 5 years age, mean = 18 months) participated. The mean burn size was 10% Total Body Surface Area, range 2-22%. Using nurse's ratings, VR significantly reduced children's pain during burn wound care by 40% on the observational Faces, Legs, Activity, Crying, and Consolability (FLACC) pain scale. Specifically, non-parametric within-subject sign tests compared nurse's ratings of the young patients' pain during burn wound care using usual pain medications with no VR = 6.67, (SD = 2.45) vs. adjunctive Animal Rescue World VR (VR = 4.00, SD = 2.24, p < 0.01). The observational Procedure-Behavior Checklist (PBCL) nurse's scale measured a 34% reduction in anxiety with VR as compared to pharmacologic treatment alone (p < 0.005). Similarly, when using single graphic rating scales the patients' parents reported a significant 36% decrease in their child's pain during VR (p < 0.05), a 38% (p < 0.005) decrease in their child's anxiety during VR, and a significant increase in patients' joy during VR. It can be concluded that during burn wound care with no distraction (traditional pain medications), children under 6 years old experienced severe pain during a 10 min burn wound cleaning session. During burn wound care combining desktop virtual reality and traditional pain medications, the same pediatric patients experienced only mild pain during burn wound cleaning/debridement. VR significantly reduced the children's pain and anxiety during burn wound care.

Immersive and desktop virtual reality in virtual fashion stores: a comparison between shopping experiences

With the high growth and prosperity of e-commerce, the retail industry needs to explore new technologies that improve digital shopping experiences. In the current technological scenario, Virtual Reality (VR) emerges as a tool and an opportunity for enhancing shopping activities, especially for the fashion industry. This study explores whether using Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) technologies enhances the shopping experience in the fashion industry compared to Desktop Virtual Reality (DVR). A within-subject experiment was carried out involving a sample of 60 participants who completed a simulated shopping experience. In the first mode (DVR), a desktop computer setup was used to test the shopping experience using a mouse and keyboard for navigation. The second mode (IVR) exploited a Head-Mounted Display (HMD), and controllers, that allowed navigation while seated on a workstation to avoid sickness. Participants had to find a bag in the virtual shop and explore its features until they were ready to purchase it. Post-hoc measures of time duration of the shopping experience, hedonic and utilitarian values, user experience, and cognitive load were compared. Results showed that participants experienced higher hedonism and utilitarianism in the IVR shop compared to DVR. The cognitive load was comparable in both modes, while user experience was higher in IVR. In addition, the time duration of the shopping experience was higher in IVR, where users stayed immersed and enjoyed it for longer. This study has implications for fashion industry research, as the use of IVR can potentially lead to novel shopping patterns by enhancing the shopping experience.

City Ditty: An Immersive Soundscape Sketchpad for Professionals of the Built Environment

Soundscape planning remains a challenge to many urban practitioners due in part to a scarcity of soundscape design tools. While many sound planning tools exist, they are generally geared towards acousticians rather than professionals of the built environment (e.g., urban designers, planners, or landscape architects). This paper walks through the user-centered design process for the development and evaluation of a new soundscape design tool, City Ditty. A User-Centered Design approach was utilized to identify and develop functionalities that would benefit urban practitioners that do not currently specialize in sound. This began with a literature review of existing soundscape tools, followed by a user needs assessment with professionals of the built environment, consisting of a workshop including focus groups, tech demos, and a collaborative soundscape design exercise. These results funneled into the development of City Ditty: an immersive soundscape sketchpad that facilitates rapid audio-visual prototyping of urban soundscapes. To make City Ditty accessible to users with no expertise in sound, we developed a sound awareness session that walks the user through 36 tasks. These hands-on tasks illustrate soundscape design principles while serving as instructions on how to use the many functions of City Ditty, e.g., listen to the city soundscape at different times of the day, pedestrianize the city centre, modify permissible construction times, and add birdfeeders to attract sounds of nature. A usability study was conducted with six participants to evaluate the tool using Desktop Virtual Reality, determine new functionalities, and determine how to best facilitate user engagement in order to encourage adoption by practitioners. The direction of future soundscape tools is discussed.

Desktop Virtual Reality Versus Face-to-Face Simulation for Team-Training on Stress Levels and Performance in Clinical Deterioration: a Randomised Controlled Trial

BackgroundSimulation-based education can equip healthcare providers with the ability to respond to and manage stressors associated with rapidly deteriorating patient situations. However, little is known about the benefits of using virtual reality (VR) for this purpose.ObjectiveTo compare between desktop VR and face-to-face simulation in stress responses and performance outcomes of a team-based simulation training in managing clinical deterioration.DesignA randomised controlled studyMethodThe study was conducted on 120 medical and nursing students working in interprofessional teams. The teams were randomly assigned to participate in a 2-h simulation using either the desktop VR or face-to-face simulation with simulated patient (SP). Biophysiological stress response, psychological stress, and confidence levels were measured before and after the simulation. Performance outcomes were evaluated after the simulation using a deteriorating patient scenario.ResultsThe systolic blood pressure and psychological stress response were significantly increased among participants in VR and SP groups; however, no significant differences were found between the groups. There was also no significant difference in confidence and performance outcomes between participants in the VR and SP groups for both medical and nursing students. Although the psychological stress response was negatively correlated (r = −0.43; p < 0.01) with confidence levels, there was no association between stress response and performance score.ConclusionDespite being less immersive, the desktop VR was capable of inducing psychological and physiological stress responses by placing emotional, social, and cognitive demands on learners. Additionally, by ensuring close alignment between the simulation tasks and the clinical tasks (i.e. functional fidelity), the desktop VR may provide similar performance outcomes as conventional simulation training. This evidence is timely given the rise in the use of virtual learning platforms to facilitate training during the COVID-19 pandemic where face-to-face training may not be feasible.Trial RegistrationThe study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04330924.

Desktop Virtual Assistant

Abstract: Changes in technology have impacted human life in a variety of ways. Because of technology improvements, the way we lived in the past and how we live now are vastly different. Previously, computers could only perform a limited number of jobs, but advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other technologies have advanced computers significantly. As a result, various voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Cortana, which function on speech recognition, have been developed to make computers more advanced and to eliminate the use of input devices. Keywords: Virtual assistant, Speech recognition, python, text to speech.

Image Quality Evaluation of Medical Image Monitor in Desktop Virtual

Image Quality Evaluation of Medical Image Monitor in Desktop Virtual

Comparable Human Spatial Memory Distortions in Physical, Desktop Virtual and Immersive Virtual Environments

Comparable Human Spatial Memory Distortions in Physical, Desktop Virtual and Immersive Virtual Environments

Google Glass-Supported Cooperative Training for Health Professionals: A Case Study Based on Using Remote Desktop Virtual Support

PurposeObservation of medical trainees’ care performance by experts can be extremely helpful for ensuring safety and providing quality care. The advanced technology of smart glasses enables health professionals to video stream their operations to remote supporters for collaboration and cooperation. This study monitored the clinical situation by using smart glasses for remote cooperative training via video streaming and clinical decision-making through simulation based on a scenario of emergency nursing care for patients with arrhythmia.Participants and MethodsThe clinical operations of bedside trainees, who is Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2(Glass EE2) wearers, were live streamed via their Google Glasses, which were viewed at a remote site by remote supporters via a desktop computer. Data were obtained from 31 nursing students using eight essay questions regarding their experience as desktop-side remote supporters.ResultsMost of the participants reported feeling uneasy about identifying clinical situations (84%), patients’ condition (72%), and trainees’ performance (69%). The current system demonstrated sufficient performance with a satisfactory level of image quality and auditory communication, while network and connectivity are areas that require further improvement. The reported barriers to identifying situations on the remote desktop were predominantly a narrow field of view and motion blur in videos captured by Glass EE2s, and using the customized mirror mode.ConclusionThe current commercial Glass EE2 can facilitate enriched communication between remotely located supporters and trainees by sharing live videos and audio during clinical operations. Further improvement of hardware and software user interfaces will ensure better applicability of smart glasses and video streaming functions to clinical practice settings.

From Exploration to Re-Enactment: Instructional Uses of a Desktop Virtual Environment for Training Nuclear Plant Field Operators

Despite the growing use of virtual environments for training in complex industrial settings, we have little understanding of how these innovative settings transform training and trainers everyday work. This study investigates the instructional use of an industrial building’s virtual environment by expert trainers during a training session for nuclear power plant field operators. Drawing from the course-of-action theoretical and methodological framework, field notes, continuous video-recording of the training sessions and verbalisations during post-training self-confrontation interviews with the trainers were collected and analysed. The results point out four typical instructional uses of the virtual environment in authentic settings: (a) showing the material elements and spatial layout of certain areas of the reactor building, (b) displaying safe and typical paths through the building, (c) explaining functional aspects to help trainees develop an operating model of the nuclear building, and (d) sharing salient experience through real-life anecdotes. These typical uses and their related learning dimensions are anchored in the re-enactments of expert trainer’s embodied past events. The discussion develops the counterintuitive idea that from an instructional point of view, the intensified immersion of trainers afforded by the virtual environment seems less influential than emerging practice-based learning experiences. We conclude with new possibilities for improving learning through and for work thanks to re-enactment of expert trainers’ past work practices.

A Framework for Desktop Virtual Reality Application for Education

Contemporary custom in education encourages students to gain exposure in the real world through student visits (field visits) to sites in count to conventional textbooks and lectures. This disclosure helps students to experience real world situations and integrate this experience into knowledge learned in class. This is important to students in various disciplines such as engineering, architecture and transportation. Students, however, have limited on-site access due to issues related to safety concerns, cost and effort. In an attempt to address such issues, Virtual Reality (VR) applications have been developed and implemented. With the growth in the number of VR applications, there is currently a lack of information about the design issues of VR applications from the standpoint of integrating different types of information associated with the real world. This paper aims to bridge this gap by evaluating VR applications with respect to these issues and highlights the lessons learned from the appropriate evaluations. The results demonstrate that VR application, which links different sources of information (as developed in this paper), promotes better learning than conventional printed materials and that students professed it positively as a precious complement to a physical field visit. The design recommendations for the development of similar VR learning applications are further discussed in this paper.

Investigating merging galaxies by using Pan-STARRS images

Aims. We studied the r ′-, z ′-, and y ′-band images of merging galaxies from the observations of the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS). The merging galaxies were selected from our merging catalog that was created by checking the images of the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey 2 from the observations of the Canada France Hawaii Telescope.Methods. By using the homomorphic-aperture, we determined the photometric results of these merging systems. To obtain accurate photometry, we calibrated the Pan-STARRS r ′-, z ′-, and y ′-band data to match the results of Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 9. We also investigated the stellar masses of the merging galaxies by comparing the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer 3.4 μ m emission with the calibrated y ′-band data.Results. We present a catalog of the r ′-, z ′-, and y ′-band photometric results for 4698 merging galaxies. For extended sources, our results suggest that the homomorphic-aperture method can obtain more reasonable results than the Desktop Virtual Observatory photometry. We derived new relations between the Pan-STARRS y ′-band luminosities and the stellar masses of the merging galaxies. Our results show that the stellar masses of the merging galaxies range from 108 to 1013 M ⊙ ; some of the dry mergers could be as massive as 1013 M ⊙ .

A Framework for Desktop Virtual Reality Application for Education

Contemporary custom in education encourages students to gain exposure in the real world through student visits field visits to sites in count to conventional textbooks and lectures. This disclosure helps students to experience real world situations and integrate this experience into knowledge learned in class. This is important to students in various disciplines such as engineering, architecture and transportation. Students, however, have limited on-site access due to issues related to safety concerns, cost and effort. In an attempt to address such issues, Virtual Reality VR applications have been developed and implemented. With the growth in the number of VR applications, there is currently a lack of information about the design issues of VR applications from the standpoint of integrating different types of information associated with the real world.

Modular Rapid E-Learning Framework (MORELFT) in Desktop Virtualization Environment: An Effective Hybrid Implementation in Nurse Education

Generally it is not easy for an instructor to prepare and deliver electronic courses via e-learning. Therefore it is necessary to work and develop an easy system. In this context module technology was used to for provide modularity in conducting educational development of e-learning course. Then, rapid e-learning was used for more quick and easy course development. In order to implement modular rapid e-learning, a desktop virtual environment was set up. Modular rapid e-learning was used by teachers and students in a one semester course and student success and reactions were evaluated. And also the overall hybrid system cost was calculated and reported. In implementation we combined modular course design with rapid e-learning and desktop virtualization in education of 3rd year nursing students for a one semester course. The effectiveness of this hybrid method was evaluated with respect to students’ success, students’ opinions and over all cost effectiveness. It was seen that the hybrid method was educationally more effective than traditional method comparing with previous year students' success and fit with students’ requirements. The cost reduction was %41 comparing with traditional desktop and e-learning system.

Review of Educational Research Methods in Desktop Virtual World Environments: Framing the Past to Provide Future Direction

This article describes educational research methodologies being used in the investigation and evaluation of desktop virtual world environments (DVWEs) as used to teach a variety of subjects in higher education. Ellis’ research framework on innovations (2005) and Reeves and Hedberg’s research goals (2003) were used as lenses to examine the state of educational research methods within DVWEs. An extensive search that resulted in 127 peer-reviewed papers chosen, was carried out to locate journal articles in the fields of educational technology, computer science and information systems, virtual reality/virtual worlds/gaming, science and health education, human-computer interaction, media and communications, psychology, social science, cognitive science, and library science. Results showed that while small scale research is common, research with broader goals (i.e. program evaluation, developmental research) is lacking.Implications include the need for signature developmental researchers to make their virtual world applications open source, and for DVWE researchers to explore collaborative research opportunities with postmodern, education researchers in order to shed more light on important issues of equity, gender, politics, and culture that impact education.

No Effect of Ambient Odor on the Affective Appraisal of a Desktop Virtual Environment with Signs of Disorder

BackgroundDesktop virtual environments (VEs) are increasingly deployed to study the effects of environmental qualities and interventions on human behavior and safety related concerns in built environments. For these applications it is essential that users appraise the affective qualities of the VE similar to those of its real world counterpart. Previous studies have shown that factors like simulated lighting, sound and dynamic elements all contribute to the affective appraisal of a desktop VE. Since ambient odor is known to affect the affective appraisal of real environments, and has been shown to increase the sense of presence in immersive VEs, it may also be an effective tool to tune the affective appraisal of desktop VEs. This study investigated if exposure to ambient odor can modulate the affective appraisal of a desktop VE with signs of public disorder.MethodParticipants explored a desktop VE representing a suburban neighborhood with signs of public disorder (neglect, vandalism and crime), while being exposed to either room air or subliminal levels of unpleasant (tar) or pleasant (cut grass) ambient odor. Whenever they encountered signs of disorder they reported their safety related concerns and associated affective feelings.ResultsSigns of crime in the desktop VE were associated with negative affective feelings and concerns for personal safety and personal property. However, there was no significant difference between reported safety related concerns and affective connotations in the control (no-odor) and in each of the two ambient odor conditions.ConclusionAmbient odor did not affect safety related concerns and affective connotations associated with signs of disorder in the desktop VE. Thus, semantic congruency between ambient odor and a desktop VE may not be sufficient to influence its affective appraisal, and a more realistic simulation in which simulated objects appear to emit scents may be required to achieve this goal.

A General Desktop Virtual Environment for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases

A General Desktop Virtual Environment for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases

Development of Desktop Virtual Maintenance Training System with Dynamically Configured Scenarios

This paper represents an engineering method to develop a desktop-based interactive virtual maintenance training system, which could configure scenarios dynamically. The interactions of maintenance training scenarios are constructed by hierarchical Petri net. The maintenance knowledge and procedures of assembly/disassembly in virtual environment are presented by using high level Petri net. Each maintenance task is decomposed into a set of sequential basic action element done through left/right hand or both hands. The Petri net presentation of coordination and execution of each task helps to configure scenarios dynamically. This method is conducive to the interactive representation of task and action scenarios in the virtual maintenance training system.

Personified and Multistate Camera Motions for First-Person Navigation in Desktop Virtual Reality

In this paper we introduce novel 'Camera Motions' (CMs) to improve the sensations related to locomotion in virtual environments (VE). Traditional Camera Motions are artificial oscillating motions applied to the subjective viewpoint when walking in the VE, and they are meant to evoke and reproduce the visual flow generated during a human walk. Our novel camera motions are: (1) multistate, (2) personified, and (3) they can take into account the topography of the virtual terrain. Being multistate, our CMs can account for different states of locomotion in VE namely: walking, but also running and sprinting. Being personified, our CMs can be adapted to avatar's physiology such as to its size, weight or training status. They can then take into account avatar's fatigue and recuperation for updating visual CMs accordingly. Last, our approach is adapted to the topography of the VE. Running over a strong positive slope would rapidly decrease the advance speed of the avatar, increase its energy loss, and eventually change the locomotion mode, influencing the visual feedback of the camera motions. Our new approach relies on a locomotion simulator partially inspired by human physiology and implemented for a real-time use in Desktop VR. We have conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the perception of our new CMs by naive participants. Results notably show that participants could discriminate and perceive transitions between the different locomotion modes, by relying exclusively on our CMs. They could also perceive some properties of the avatar being used and, overall, very well appreciated the new CMs techniques. Taken together, our results suggest that our new CMs could be introduced in Desktop VR applications involving first-person navigation, in order to enhance sensations of walking, running, and sprinting, with potentially different avatars and over uneven terrains, such as for: training, virtual visits or video games.