Different Levels Of Immersion Research Articles

A Mixed-Methods Investigation of How Digital Immersion Affects Design for Additive Manufacturing Evaluations

Abstract Applications for additive manufacturing (AM) continue to increase as more industries adopt the technology within their product development processes. There is a growing demand for designers to acquire and hone their design for AM (DfAM) intuition and generate innovative solutions with AM. Resources that promote DfAM intuition, however, historically default to physical or digitally non-immersive modalities. Immersive virtual reality (VR) naturally supports 3D spatial perception and reasoning, suggesting its intuitive role in evaluating geometrically complex designs and fostering DfAM intuition. However, the effects of immersion on DfAM evaluations are not well-established in the literature. This study contributes to this gap in the literature by examining DfAM evaluations for a variety of designs across modalities using varying degrees of immersion. Specifically, it observes the effects on the outcomes of the DfAM evaluation, the effort required of evaluators, and their engagement with the designs. Findings indicate that the outcomes from DfAM evaluations in immersive and non-immersive modalities are similar without statistically observable differences in the cognitive load experienced during the evaluations. Active engagement with the designs, however, is observed to be significantly different between immersive and non-immersive modalities. By contrast, passive engagement remains similar across the modalities. These findings have interesting implications on how organizations train designers in DfAM, as well as on the role of immersive modalities in design processes. Organizations can provide DfAM resources across different levels of immersion, enabling designers to customize how they acquire DfAM intuition and solve complex engineering problems.

On the Design and Implementation of a Mixed-Platform Collaborative Virtual RAS Planner

Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) represents an important step forward in the field of minimally invasive surgery. However, the learning curve of RAS is steep, and a systematic planning of surgical robot setups should be performed to leverage the features of RAS. For this reason, in this paper we show the design and implementation of a mixed-platform collaborative system, creating an interactive virtual shared environment that simulates RAS during the surgery planning phase. The proposed system allows one or more experts to plan together the different phases of an RAS-based surgical procedure, while integrating different levels of immersion to enhance computer-assisted training. We have tested our system with a total of four domain experts. Our results show that experts found the system excellent in terms of usability and useful to prepare and discuss surgical planning with RAS.

Influence of a Three-Month Mixed Reality Training on Gait Speed and Cognitive Functions in Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study.

People with intellectual disability (ID) are often subject to motor impairments such as altered gait. As gait is a task involving motor and perceptive dimensions, perceptual-motor training is an efficient rehabilitation approach to reduce the risk of falls which grows with age. Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality are recent tools which enable interaction with 3D elements at different levels of immersion and interaction. In view of the countless possibilities that this opens, their use for therapeutic purposes is constantly increasing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence a mixed reality activity could have on motor and cognitive abilities in eighteen adults with intellectual disability. For three months, once a week, they had around 20 min to pop virtual balloons with a finger using a Microsoft HoloLens2® head-mounted mixed-reality device. Motor skills were assessed through gait analysis and cognitive abilities were measured with the Montréal Cognitive Assessment. Both walking speed and cognitive score increased after training. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that mixed reality holds potential to get used for therapeutic purposes in adults with ID.

What is Diminished Virtuality? A Directional and Layer-Based Taxonomy for the Reality-Virtuality Continuum

The concept of reality-virtuality (RV) continuum was introduced by Paul Milgram and Fumio Kishino in 1994. It describes a spectrum that ranges from a purely physical reality (the real world) to a purely virtual reality (a completely computer-generated environment), with various degrees of mixed reality in between. This continuum is “realized” by different types of displays to encompass different levels of immersion and interaction, allowing for the classification of different types of environments and experiences. What is often overlooked in this concept is the act of diminishing real objects (or persons, animals, etc) from the reality, that is, a diminution, rather than augmenting it, that is, an augmentation. Hence, we want to propose in this contribution an update or modification of the RV continuum where the diminished reality aspect is more prominent. We hope this will help users, especially those who are new to the field, to get a better understanding of the entire extended reality (XR) topic, as well as assist in the decision-making for hardware (devices) and software or algorithms that are needed for new diminished reality applications. However, we also propose another, more sophisticated directional and layer-based taxonomy for the RV continuum that we believe goes beyond the mediated and multimediated realities. Furthermore, we initiate the question of whether the RV continuum truly ends on one side with physical reality.

Enhancing Tai Chi Training System: Towards Group-Based and Hyper-Realistic Training Experiences.

In this article, we propose a lightweight and flexible enhanced Tai Chi training system composed of multiple standalone virtual reality (VR) devices. The system aims to enable a hyper-realistic multi-user action training platform at low cost by displaying real-time action guidance trajectories, providing real-world impossible visual effects and functions, and rapidly enhancing movement precision and communication interest for learners. We objectively evaluate participants' action quality at different levels of immersion, including traditional coach guidance (TCG), VR, and mixed reality (MR), along with subjective measures like motion sickness, quality of interaction, social meaning, presence/immersion to comprehensively explore the system's feasibility. The results indicate VR performs the best in training accuracy, but MR provides superior social experience and relatively high accuracy. Unlike TCG, MR offers hyper-realistic hand movement trajectories and Tai Chi social references. Compared with VR, MR provides more realistic avatar companions and a safer environment. In summary, MR balances accuracy and social experience.

Changes in Respiratory Muscle Pressure of Healthy Individuals with Different Levels of Immersion in Water: Observational Study

Introduction 
 
 Understanding the physiological effects of immersion, particularly on pulmonary dynamics in healthy individuals is important to predict and interpret the physiological responds in unhealthy group. The aim of our study is to evaluate the inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength and cough strength in healthy individuals during water immersion at different water depths. 
 
 Methods
 A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 healthy individuals with the mean age 20.0 years. Respiratory muscle strength test and cough force were tested on dry land and in pool at iliac crests, xiphoid appendix of the sternum and clavicles levels. Measurements were randomized at each level. The Friedman test was used for repeated measures with Wilcoxon signed ranks test with Bonferroni correction was applies to compare the variables. 
 Results
 A significant difference between dry land and immersion in water of different levels for MEP (p=0.001) and PEF (p= 0.015). multiple comparisons showed no difference between levels in PEF (p

Mining players’ experience in computer games: Immersion affects flow but not presence

The aim of this study was to investigate whether different levels of immersion while playing a computer game affect the participant's experiences of flow and presence. Understanding how different levels of immersion influence the experiences of flow and presence can shed light on the intricate interplay between these constructs and provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to engaging and immersive gameplay. The independent variable, immersion, was manipulated in three conditions (high, moderate, and low) in a between-subject design within the video game Minecraft. Participants were asked to complete 15 min of gameplay and then fill out the questionnaires concerning flow and presence. The experiment was conducted remotely on a video-sharing platform. Bayesian analysis revealed an effect of immersion level on flow, while no evidence of an effect was found for the experience of presence. This study provides evidence in favor of a relation between flow and immersion while supporting a presumed double dissociation of immersion from presence. Future research using a Bayesian approach is encouraged to build further knowledge on this research topic.

Creating Virtual Field Trips for Education: A Comparison of Software and Tools for Creating Virtual Field Trips with 360° Images

Virtual Reality (VR) has gained more importance in the educational sector. A possibility of using VR in education can be Virtual Field Trips (VFTs). This work analyses the possibilities of creating VFTs with different software/tools, output devices, and 360° cameras in the educational sector. The preparatory work, with the recording of own 360° images, is described, including the involved time and comparison of 360° cameras. With a comparison, four categories of software/tools for creating a VFT are analyzed under the aspects of the needed technical equipment, the time effort, the needed skills to create the VFT and the level of immersion and interactivity, and the convey of technical content through the VFT. For the creation and use of a VFT a software/tool and an output device is necessary. The creation of 360° images requires a 360° camera, which is very time-consuming, concerning the everyday workload of teachers. Three of the tested software/tools require through a graphical user interface a low level of skills for creating a VFT. The created VFT with the different software/tools offers different levels of immersion and interaction. It is possible for teachers to create their own VFT, but the accompanying time and cost can limit the possibilities during the everyday work.

Виртуальная реальность (VR) в педиатрии: международный и российский опыт.

Introduction. Virtual Reality (VR) is an interactive-immersive, computer-generated environment or experience that may be estimated as the evolution of existing communication interfaces towards different levels of immersion. Over the past 15 years, VR and AR technologies have been actively introduced into clinical medicine. Children are the most active users of modern gadgets and the Internet, so their compliance with new technology is considered the highest. The purpose. To demonstrate the virtual reality (VR) technologies potential in pediatric practice. Materials and methods. For the review, foreign and domestic publications from 2016 to 2023 were used. An analysis of the VR potential in pediatrics was carried out, its positive effects were identified, as well as unresolved issues both on the part of patients and the scientific and clinical community. Results. The pediatrics niches that are likely to be occupied by VR in the future are in the field of rehabilitation, habilitation, psychiatry, and palliative medicine. It is possible to use VR technologies to enhance pain relief, reduce anxiety, depression in almost all subspecialties of pediatrics. Due to its non-invasiveness, the possibility of combining with pharmacological methods, a high degree of empathy and compliance on the part of pediatric patients is ensured. It is also important to ensure epidemiological safety, which has become very popular during a pandemic. Conclusions. The conducted studies and review of scientific publications demonstrate the high potential of VR virtual reality methods in pediatrics. Decreased investment in knowledge-intensive areas, including the use of VR technologies in medicine, may limit their implementation in clinical practice. It is necessary to unite scientific professional communities to conduct randomized clinical trials with the subsequent development of protocols and clinical guidelines for VR in pediatrics.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality On Level of Labour Pain Among Primigravida Women – A Randomized Prospective, Passive Control, Interventional Trial

Childbirth is a natural process, and its pain is perceived as normal. Labor pain is a universal experience for women; it is a highly unpleasant sensation that cannot be shared with others. Virtual reality (VR) learning is a technology that allows the user to explore and manipulate computer-generated real or artificial three-dimensional (3D) multimedia sensory environments in real-time. It allows for a first-person active learning experience through different levels of immersion, that is, a perception of the digital world as real and the ability to interact with objects. The objectives were 1. To assess the level of labor pain among primigravid women admitted in the labor ward. 2.To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality on the level of labor pain among the primigravid women admitted to the labor ward. 3. To find out the association between the level of labor pain among the primigravid women with selected True experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was Primigravid women with labor pain. Totally 60 samples were selected by Random sampling technique (lottery method), 30 in each group. Group I (experimental) received the virtual reality technique, and group II (control) received routine care. Pre-test was done using a structured questionnaire and assessment of the level of pain perception by numerical pain rating scale. In the post-test, after giving the Virtual reality technique to group 1 level of labor pain was assessed with a numerical pain rating scale. The results revealed that in the pre-test, the majority of samples, 24(80%), had severe pain,5(16.7%) had moderate pain, and 1(3.3%) had the worst pain in both the experimental and control group. In posttest, the majority of sample in group I 24(80%) had moderate pain, 2(6.7%) had mild pain, 4(13.3%) had severe pain and in group II 3(10%) had moderate pain, 25(83.3%) had severe pain, 2(6.7%) had worst pain. In the pre-test, the experimental and control group's mean and standard deviation values were 7.4, 1.04, and 7.57, 1.22 respectively. In the post-test, the experimental and control group's mean and standard deviation values are 5.23,1.25 and 8.07,1.01, respectively. The obtained Wilcoxon signed ranks test value for experimental group 4.867 and p-value < 0.0001. The Study findings reveal that the virtual reality technique effectively reduced labor pain among primigravid women using a numerical pain scale score.

Virtual Reality Applications in Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review.

BackgroundVirtual reality can play an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic in the health care sector. This technology has the potential to supplement the traditional in-hospital medical training and treatment, and may increase access to training and therapies in various health care settings.ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to describe the literature on health care–targeted virtual reality applications during the COVID-19 crisis.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of the literature on the PsycINFO, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The search string was as follows: “[(virtual reality)] AND [(COVID-19) OR (coronavirus) OR (SARS-CoV-2) OR (healthcare)].” Papers published in English after December 2019 in peer-reviewed journals were selected and subjected to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to assess the quality of studies and the risk of bias.ResultsThirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen studies showed the usefulness of virtual reality during the COVID-19 crisis for reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and promoting physical activity. Twenty-two studies revealed that virtual reality was a helpful learning and training tool during the COVID-19 crisis in several areas, including emergency medicine, nursing, and pediatrics. This technology was also used as an educational tool for increasing public understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. Different levels of immersion (ie, immersive and desktop virtual reality), types of head-mounted displays (ie, PC-based, mobile, and standalone), and content (ie, 360° videos and photos, virtual environments, virtual reality video games, and embodied virtual agents) have been successfully used. Virtual reality was helpful in both face-to-face and remote trials.ConclusionsVirtual reality has been applied frequently in medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, with positive effects for treating several health conditions and for medical education and training. Some barriers need to be overcome for the broader adoption of virtual reality in the health care panorama.Trial RegistrationInternational Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY) INPLASY202190108; https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-9-0108/

Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments?

Research on attention restoration theory has provided consistent results over the years, and exposure to nature has been found to significantly improve and restore directed attention fatigue. However, rapid urbanisation has made it increasingly difficult for human beings to interact with unpolluted nature. Countries such as Singapore began to integrate nature into city planning and into the designs of buildings to help resident satisfaction and well-being. Local studies have had contradictory outcomes; residents report significantly higher restoration and affect towards vertical integrated greeneries, but many would still prefer traditional on-the-ground foliage. Interest in outdoor greenspaces is variable because Singapore’s high heat and humid climate make it uncomfortable to interact with outside nature for prolonged periods. The current study tested alternative modalities that can provide residents with on-the-ground foliage interactions, without the discomfort of being outdoors. Virtual exposures with different levels of immersion (high and low) and types of scenes (nature and urban) were tested for effects on perceived presence, perceived restoration and objective restoration. A total of 120 adult participants completed the study, which revealed that a virtual reality-nature condition provided significantly superior directed attention restoration and higher presence ratings. Immersive tendency did not affect perceived presence; neither did it moderate the relationship between perceived presence and its corresponding perceived restoration.

Enhancing Remote Industrial Training Experiences with Asymmetric Virtual Reality: Experiences, Tools and Guidelines

Training in virtual reality (VR) is a valuable supplementing tool for advancing knowledge transfer that results in increased efficiency and accuracy of technicians in fieldwork. However, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions made it impossible for VR training centers to operate on a full scale, forcing traditional face-to-face learning sessions to become remote. In this article, we investigate the asymmetric use of a VR training solution—among devices with different levels of immersion and control—to enrich the content of remote training sessions. The VR in this case can be seen as a source of visual and other contextual information to advance the effects of situated learning and enhance knowledge transfer. To evaluate this approach, we conducted a remote user study with ten industrial maintenance and installation experts. We also introduce the “Research Panel” tool to gather reactions of learners during the remote training session. The expert user study results demonstrate the usefulness and relevance of asymmetric VR to improve remote training sessions and other application industrial scenarios, while the “Research Panel” data provided detailed insight into the session flow. Building on the qualitative findings, we present design guidelines to aid the adoption of asymmetric VR in the industrial context.

The benchmark framework and exploratory study to investigate the feasibility of 360-degree video-based virtual reality to induce a full body illusion

The feeling of ownership of a virtual body has been a topic of interest in recent years. In order to observe the mechanisms involved in the perception of the body illusion and its manipulation, the use of virtual reality (VR) has been essential. Various technical VR set-ups have been adopted by different authors to induce the sense of embodiment. Recently, 360-degree technology camera emerged as an innovative instrument to generate an immersive experience, with positive results in terms of involvement with the scenario. The current study aims to test the feasibility of the 360-degree video-based VR to induce a full body illusion. To do this, we evaluated two different groups receiving different levels of immersion: a 3D immersive video and a 2D non-immersive video. Self-reported sense of embodiment and heart rate variability (HRV) measures were analyzed. The results of the embodiment questionnaire showed that the immersive condition can trigger a full body illusion, with significant differences between the 3D and 2D conditions (ownership: p = .003, agency: p = .000, location: p = .013, haptic sensation: p = .027). No difference was found on the Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD) index—the beat-to-beat variance of the heart rate—of the HRV measure (first 90 s: p = .168, last 90 s: p = .401). Based on these results, future studies are needed to investigate the 360-degree video-based VR technology as a medium to generate the sense of embodiment.

Immersion positively affects learning in virtual reality games compared to equally interactive 2d games

Purpose This study isolates the effect of immersion on players’ learning in a virtual reality (VR)-based game about cellular biology by comparing two versions of the game with the same level of interactivityand different levels of immersion. The authors identify immersion and additional interactivity as two key affordances of VR as a learning tool. A number of research studies compare VR with two-dimensional or minimally interactive media; this study focuses on the effect of immersion as a result of the head mounted display (HMD). Design/methodology/approach In the game, players diagnose a cell by exploring a virtual cell and search for clues that indicate one of five possible types of cystic fibrosis. Fifty-one adults completed all aspects of the study. Players took pre and post assessments and drew pictures of cells and translation before and after the game. Players were randomly assigned to play the game with the HMD (stereoscopic view) or without the headset (non-stereoscopic view). Players were interviewed about their drawings and experiences at the end of the session. Findings Players in both groups improved in their knowledge of the cell environment and the process of translation. Players who experienced the immersive stereoscopic view had a more positive learning effect in the content assessment, and stronger improvement in their mental models of the process of translation between pre- and post-drawings compared to players who played the two-dimensional game. Originality/value This study suggests that immersion alone has a positive effect on conceptual understanding, especially in helping learners understand spatial environments and processes. These findings set the stage for a new wave of research on learning in immersive environments; research that moves beyond determining whether immersive media correlate with more learning, toward a focus on the types of learning outcomes that are best supported by immersive media.

An Internet-based treatment for Flying Phobia using 360° images: Study protocol for a feasibility pilot study

BackgroundFlying Phobia (FP) is a prevalent disorder that can cause serious interference in a person's life. ICBT interventions have already shown their efficacy in several studies, but studies in the field of specific phobias are still scarce. Moreover, few studies have investigated the feasibility of using different types of images in exposure scenarios in ICBTs and no studies have been carried out on the role of sense of presence and reality judgement. The aim of the present study is to explore the feasibility of an ICBT for FP (NO-FEAR Airlines) using two types of images with different levels of immersion (still and navigable images). A secondary aim is to explore the potential effectiveness of the two experimental conditions using two types of images compared to a waiting list control group. Finally, the role of navigable images compared to the still images in the level of anxiety, sense of presence, and reality judgement will also be explored. This paper presents the study protocol. MethodsThis study is a three-armed feasibility pilot study with the following conditions: NO-FEAR Airlines with navigable images, NO-FEAR Airlines with still images, and a waiting list group. A minimum of 60 participants will be recruited. The intervention will have a maximum duration of 6 weeks. Measurements will be taken at four different moments: baseline, post-intervention, and two follow-ups (3- and 12-month). Participants' opinions, preference, satisfaction and acceptance regarding the images used in the exposure scenarios will be assessed. FP symptomatology outcomes will also be considered for secondary analyses. The anxiety, sense of presence, and reality judgement in the exposure scenarios will also be analysed. DiscussionThis study will conduct a pilot study on the feasibility of an ICBT for FP and it is the first one to explore the evaluation of patients of the two type of images (still and navigable) and the role of presence and reality judgement in exposure scenarios delivered through the Internet. Research in this field can have an impact on the way these scenarios are designed and developed, as well as helping to explore whether they have any effect on adherence. Trial registrationNCT03900559. Trial Registration date 3 April 2019, retrospectively registered.

Fright, attention, and joy while killing zombies in Virtual Reality: A psychophysiological analysis of VR user experience

AbstractTo date, research on the user experience of Virtual Reality (VR) games is sparse even though VR and immersive gaming experiences are emerging as a substantial consumer based within the videogame industry. Using facial electromyography and skin conductance response measurement, the current research presents the first psychophysiological evidence to show that: (1) VR games may heighten affective responses such as fear and arousal; (2) different levels of immersion in various gameplay modes may evoke higher affective responses; and (3) these heightened affective responses significantly correlate with users’ experience of enjoyment at the precise onset of the affective response. Due to the second‐by‐second nature of psychophysiological measurement, the study's findings also pinpoint a specific sequence (i.e., entrapment in a dark room) within the gameplay that significantly evoked nearly 2.5‐times higher fear with arousal as well as enjoyment. These findings contribute to the ongoing study of VR in the fields of media psychology, media studies, human‐computer interaction studies, and marketing by demonstrating the strong link between immersion, affective responses, and positive user experience toward a horror VR game and their marketing implications.

Level of immersion affects spatial learning in virtual environments: results of a three-condition within-subjects study with long intersession intervals

Virtual reality and immersive technologies are used in a variety of learning and training applications. However, higher levels of immersion do not always improve learning. The mixed results in the literature may partly arise from the use of between-subjects designs, insufficient time intervals between sessions in within-subjects designs, and/or overreliance on binary comparisons of immersion levels. Our study examined the influence of three levels of audiovisual immersive technology on spatial learning in virtual environments, using a within-subjects design with long intersession intervals. Performance on object recognition and discrimination was improved in the highest immersion condition, whereas performance on directional bearings showed a U-shaped relationship with level of immersion. Examination of our data suggests that these results likely would not have been found had we used a between-subjects design or a binary comparison, thus demonstrating the value of our approach. Results suggest that different levels of immersion may be better suited to more or less cognitively complex types of spatial learning. We discuss challenges and opportunities for future work.

Evaluation of Spatial Perspective Taking Skills using a Digital Game with Different Levels of Immersion

The present paper presents the results of an experiment aimed at assessing the impact of different levels of immersion on performance in a Spatial Perspective Taking (SPT) task. Since SPT is an embodied skill, the hypothesis was that the more immersive a tool is, the better the performance should be. Ninety-eight students from a local primary school have played with three different versions of a game: (i) completely immersive with a Head Mounted Display, (ii) semi immersive on a computer screen and (iii) non-immersive where no movements were possible for the player. Results showed that in the immersive versions of the game, players obtained higher scores than in the non-immersive version, suggesting that an immersive tool can better support performance in a SPT task.

Experimental study on combined buoyant-thermocapillary flow along with rising liquid film on the surface of a horizontal metallic mesh tube

Temperature distribution and variation with time has been considered in the analysis of the influences of the initial level of immersion of a horizontal metallic mesh tube in the liquid on combined buoyant and thermocapillary flow. The combined flow occurs along with the rising liquid film flow on the surface of a horizontal metallic mesh tube. Three different levels of immersion of the metallic mesh tube in the liquid have been tested. Experiments of 60 min in duration have been performed using a heating metallic tube with a diameter of 25 mm and a length of 110 mm, sealed outside with a metallic mesh of 178 mm by 178 mm, and distilled water. These reveal two distinct flow patterns. Thermocouples and infrared thermal imager are utilized to measure the temperature. The level of the liquid free surface relative to the lower edge of the tube is measured as angle θ. The results show that for a smaller θ angle, or a low level of immersion, with a relatively low heating power, it is possible to near fully combine the upwards buoyant flow with the rising liquid film flow. In this case, the liquid is heated only in the vicinity of the tube, while the liquid away from the flow region experiences small changes in temperature and the system approaches steady conditions. For larger θ angles, or higher levels of immersion, a different flow pattern is noticed on the liquid free surface and identified as the thermo-capillary (Marangoni) flow. The rising liquid film is also present. The higher levels of immersion cause a high temperature gradient in the liquid free surface region and promote thermal stratification; therefore the system could not approach steady conditions.