Immersive Technologies Research Articles

The Evolution From Standardized to Virtual Patients in Medical Education.

Standardized patients (SPs) are widely used in medical education to teach clinical skills and provide assessments. SPs allow students to practice history taking, physical exams, and communication in controlled settings. However, SPs have limitations such as fatigue, performance variability, and the inability to simulate certain conditions, which virtual patients (VPs) can address. VPs can address these limitations and offer consistency, scalability, and adaptability. Although VPs are being implemented in research settings, they have the potential to be powerful medical education tools. Advancements in immersive technologies such as virtual reality, haptic feedback, and artificial intelligence (AI) will allow the creation of hyper-realistic, interactive training environments that mimic the complexity of real patient encounters. Medical students will be able to engage with VPs in fully immersive settings, complete with haptic feedback and AI-driven dialogue, allowing for more lifelike diagnostic and procedural experiences. The wider availability of such technologies through web services has implications for global medical education and assessment.

Polarized and Directional Electroluminescence from Organic Light‐Emitting Devices by Using a Bifunctional Meta‐Electrode

AbstractOrganic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) with polarized and directional emission are highly desired for their promising applications in optical imaging, optical communication, and immersive visual technologies. Existing implementation methods based on free space bulk optical elements suffer from significant power loss, limiting their practical applications. Here, a bifunctional meta‐electrode is proposed by integrating a metasurface consisting of Ag periodic corrugations onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) anode to simultaneously realize the functions of charge carrier injection and photon management in the OLEDs. Highly polarized and directional light emission is demonstrated while maintaining a high device efficiency using the meta‐electrode. The electroluminescence with a polarization extinction ratio of 5 is achieved by judiciously engineering the polarization‐dependent Purcell factor of the resonant cavity constructed by the meta‐electrode. Meanwhile, the directional light emission with a divergence angle of 10° can be obtained by the efficient out‐coupling of surface plasmon‐polariton mode. The light beam can be collimated in one direction by using 1D nanogratings and in two directions by using 2D nanopillars, respectively.

Globalisation and Digitalisation: The European Approach to Cutting-edge Educational Practices

The urgency of optimising the development of Ukraine’s education system is driven by the need to preserve intellectual potential and national identity against the backdrop of the priority of integrating into the European system in the context of post-war recovery. The research aims to identify gaps in existing studies on globalisation and digitalisation practices based on successful European experiences and propose a new research direction in immersive technologies. The innovative solutions proposed in the article pertain to immersive technologies integrated into the educational process to enhance material assimilation and create engaging experiences. The advantages of their application are highlighted, including the visualisation of abstract and complex learning concepts, stimulation of active participation in interaction with virtual objects and environments, development of creativity and problem-oriented thinking, and obtaining realistic experience. The study establishes that the implementation of advanced educational practices of the European community and the involvement of long-term international funding in synergy form potential optimal prerequisites for developing the higher education system in the national space through the differentiation of powers between various institutions, autonomy in the organisation of educational process management, and the formation of a competitive environment in the higher education sector.

Needs Analysis of Virtual Reality Implementation in Indonesian Medical Curricula: A Qualitative Study

Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that can be a learning tool for medical students. However, VR devices are costly and need high maintenance. In addition, prior research rarely integrates VR into medical education’s pedagogical and learning aspects. Questionnaires and guidelines for implementing VR are also scarce. This study analysed the need for VR implementation in medical curricula in Indonesia using qualitative descriptive methods. A non-discriminative snowball sampling technique was used, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. Data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis. This study included nine respondents from five medical schools (three state and two private). The results show that the VR implementation process must consist of several stages: needs exploration, blueprint creation, multidiscipline or multi-centre collaboration, training provision, success stories and scientific evidence, appreciation, and evaluation. Readiness factors assessed during the needs exploration stage include human resources, curriculum, infrastructure, funding, and regulations. In conclusion, VR implementation in Indonesian medical curricula must be carried out in seven steps, and five essential readiness factors must be extensively explored to ensure that the implementation is successful, has educational value, and has further potential development in the future.

REVOLUTIONIZING LUXURY: THE ROLE OF AI AND MACHINE LEARNING IN ENHANCING MARKETING STRATEGIES WITHIN THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY LUXURY SECTORS

This investigation aims to explore the profound impact of these technologies on marketing strategies within the luxury tourism and hospitality sectors in Portugal and Spain and to provide a comprehensive analysis of their role in enhancing service delivery and molding consumer behavior. Additionally, this research delves into the geographical patterns of online luxury hotel bookings, uncovering how regional economic conditions and cultural factors influence consumer behavior. Through a detailed quantitative examination of 2,048 survey responses, this study investigates how AI and ML technologies are employed to optimize digital marketing strategies, focusing particularly on the effectiveness of remarketing and retargeting tactics and their influence on consumer purchasing decisions. By analyzing the distribution of bookings across various districts in Portugal and Spain, the study highlights the disparities in economic prosperity and their correlation with the frequency and nature of luxury hotel stays. This geographical analysis not only provides insights into the current state of the luxury hospitality market but also sheds light on the broader trends of e-commerce adoption in these regions. The study anticipates that the integration of even more immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will further blur the lines between digital convenience and tangible luxury, suggesting a continued evolution of luxury tourism where technology enhances both the digital and physical aspects of consumer experiences. AI and ML applications, such as chatbots for 24/7 customer service and predictive analytics for tailoring travel recommendations, have greatly improved customer interaction and operational efficiencies. While the industry benefits from technological advancements, there are ongoing challenges such as concerns over data privacy and the need for constant updates to algorithms to keep pace with evolving market conditions.

Advances in Human–Machine Interaction, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics

The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR) is transforming the way humans interact with machines [...]

How to Alleviate the Lack of Trust in Live Streaming: A Moderated Mediation Model of Immersive Technology

With the rapid growth of live streaming e-commerce, there have been frequent issues such as broadcasters’ misleading product promotions and artificial live streaming scenes that have created a crisis of trust for consumers. To solve the above problems, this study introduces immersive technology into live streaming and establishes a moderated mediation model with trust as the mediation and immersive technology as the moderator to investigate impact of technology on live streaming. The results further validate that broadcaster reputation and perceived value promote purchase intention and indirectly enhance it through trust. However, perceived value promotes purchase intention through trust only when the immersive technology is low and medium. This means that when immersive technology is medium and high, it will become the most important factor affecting trust in live streaming. The study offers insights into the impact of immersive technology on trust and advocates for its consideration in advancing the live streaming industry.

Exploring the effect of familiarity on sports performance food perception in various simulated consumption contexts

Leveraging immersive room technologies this study sought to explore the impact of consumer familiarity on the perceived appropriateness and liking of high-protein energy bars across three distinct contexts: Pre-Workout, Office Break, and Outdoor Break. Results showed that both context and familiarity have significant influence on consumer perceptions, with high familiarity consumers giving the bars greater liking and appropriateness scores than low familiarity consumers. The Office Break context received the highest appropriateness and liking scores, while the Outdoor Break context was rated lowest. Post-test focus groups revealed diverse perspectives on the balance between utility and hedonism in food consumption, underscoring the influence of consumer usage patterns, consumption context, and prior product experience.

Sense of Agency during Encoding Predicts Subjective Reliving.

Autonoetic consciousness (ANC), the ability to re-experience personal past events links episodic memory and self-consciousness by bridging awareness of oneself in a past event (i.e., during its encoding) with awareness of oneself in the present (i.e., during the reliving of a past event). Recent neuroscience research revealed a bodily form of self-consciousness, including the sense of agency (SoA) and the sense of body ownership (SoO) that are based on the integration of multisensory bodily inputs and motor signals. However, the relation between SoA and/or SoO with ANC is not known. Here, we used immersive virtual reality technology and motion tracking and investigated the potential association of SoA/SoO with ANC. For this, we exposed participants to different levels of visuomotor and perspectival congruency, known to modulate SoA and SoO, during the encoding of virtual scenes and collected ANC ratings 1 week after the encoding session. In a total of 74 healthy participants, we successfully induced systematic changes in SoA and SoO during encoding and found that ANC depended on the level of SoA experienced during encoding. Moreover, ANC was positively associated with SoA, but only for the scene encoded with preserved visuomotor and perspectival congruency, and such SoA-ANC coupling was absent for SoO and control questions. Collectively, these data provide behavioral evidence in a novel paradigm that links a key subjective component of bodily self-consciousness during encoding, SoA, to the subjective reliving of those encoded events from one's past, ANC.

Augmented reality marketing in hospitality and tourism: a guide for researchers and managers

Purpose The hospitality and tourism industry is strongly influenced by new and immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), to enhance customer experiences across a diverse set of touchpoints throughout the visitor journey. This paper aims to provide a holistic understanding of AR marketing for this industry context, present a number of fundamental premises of AR marketing within it and establish an agenda for future AR research. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews current literature on AR marketing, hospitality and tourism and industry use cases for the creation of a proposed conceptual framework to guide scholars and managers. Based on that, the authors propose fundamental premises. Findings The three fundamental premises of AR marketing presented are the need to clearly differentiate between AR and virtual reality within hospitality and tourism; the use of AR for the on-trip experience; and the combined focus on content, context, customer and computing devices for a successful strategic implementation of AR. Research limitations/implications This study serves as a first point of reference for the strategic integration of AR into hospitality and tourism marketing, both from an industry and academic point of view. Practical implications The authors provide a number of managerial recommendations based on our three fundamental premises. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to holistically characterize AR marketing in the hospitality and tourism context. It also highlights the fundamental premises of successful AR marketing and future directions of AR research today and in a spatial computing future.

New Skills and Knowledge for Digital Entrepreneurs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Digital technologies are becoming increasingly complex and integrated, leading to significant transformations in society and the economy. The article aims to explore and summarize the new opportunities and potential risks of the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in all aspects of life, to define the new skills and necessary knowledge of digital entrepreneurs and to highlight the need for transformation in modern education. Recognizing that the relationship between technology and business is two-way and becoming stronger, revealing that well-prepared employees are a guarantee of success and prosperity of companies in various fields, we try to focus on the main groups of qualities, skills and basic knowledge of students in the age of artificial intelligence. The development of the Internet, expansion of connectivity through social networks, the advent of AI, 3D printing, and immersive technologies like Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality, require new knowledge and skills, leading to new challenges in education. Qualified personnel in this modern world must have solid professional training and systemic thinking (knowledge, skills, accumulated information), developed cognitive abilities, and personal skills based on collecting and analyzing large amounts of diverse information from heterogeneous sources. Questions arise: how can multiple information sources be combined effectively, and how can the fusion of multiple sources provide additional information to support decision-making processes? Combining information obtained from the real world makes the results heterogeneous and more informative. It follows the need to develop machine learning methods to extract relevant information from increasingly complex data sets. The goal is to improve the accuracy of the applied classification algorithms by combining predictions from multiple models, as well as obtaining a more stable final classification evaluation, effective handling of noisy data, adaptation to changing conditions, and improving stability when solving problems. On the other hand, how to ensure that the enormous potential of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, connection with the physical world, machine learning, and pervasive networks of people and machines will be fully used to improve the quality of life and contribute to the building of stable societies. Changes must be subordinated to policy and investments for reliable artificial intelligence and based on an ethical and human-centered approach. All of these should be established as a fundamental principle of training in Higher education which imposes the need for transformation in modern education.

Exploring the Frontiers: A Comprehensive Review of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Manufacturing and Industry

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are revo- lutionizing manufacturing practices by offering immersive and interactive experiences. This review paper synthesizes current research on AR and VR’s applications, benefits, and challenges in manufacturing, covering design, training, maintenance, and quality control. Key findings highlight the applications and positive impact of AR/VR on efficiency, cost management, and quality control in manufacturing processes. Industries are in- creasingly adopting these technologies to enhance productivity and reduce errors. However, challenges such as cost, techno- logical infrastructure, and integration into existing workflows remain significant barriers. In conclusion, integrating AR and VR in manufacturing holds immense potential to transform traditional methods and improve operational efficiency. This paper advocates for broader implementation and research to harness the full benefits of immersive technologies in manufacturing.

Clinicians’ perspectives of immersive tools in clinical mental health settings: a systematic scoping review

BackgroundVirtual Reality in mental health treatment has potential to address a wide spectrum of psychological and neurocognitive disorders. Despite the proven benefits, integration into clinical practice faces significant challenges. There is a critical need for research into clinicians’ perceptions of virtual reality due to the gap between rapid technological advancements and their adoption in mental health services.MethodA scoping review was conducted to comprehensively understand clinicians’ perspectives on the application of immersive virtual reality technologies within mental health settings. 4 data bases were searched, from inception, with the search areas of clinicians’, technology, perspectives and mental health. The scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR checklist. All results were thematically analysed to identify and categorise themes with a focus on qualitative analyses of clinicians’ experiences and perceptions of VR applications in therapeutic contexts.Results17 articles were selected, encompassing a range of mental health settings. The findings indicate that the integration of VR in clinical environments is heavily influenced by clinicians’ knowledge and experience, with unfamiliarity often leading to scepticism. Positive attitudes towards VR, bolstered by direct experience and training, were found to drive acceptance, as clinicians’ acknowledged its potential to complement traditional therapies. However, there are still gaps in understanding VR’s therapeutic applications, particularly concerning its impact on human interaction and its suitability for specific patient groups. Balancing VR’s clinical benefits with ethical and safety concerns is crucial, especially when working with vulnerable populations. Furthermore, structural and administrative support is essential to overcoming the financial and logistical challenges of VR implementation, ensuring its safe and effective integration into mental health care.ConclusionWhile VR holds significant potential for enhancing mental health care, its successful integration into clinical practice necessitates addressing existing gaps in knowledge, training, and structural support. By carefully balancing its clinical benefits with ethical, practical, and safety considerations, VR can be effectively utilised as a valuable tool in mental health treatment, providing innovative solutions while ensuring that patient care remains paramount.

Advancing Medical Education Using Virtual and Augmented Reality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic and Critical Review

This review critically examines the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in medical training across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), offering a novel perspective by combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from medical students in Egypt and Ghana. Through a systematic review process, 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023 were analysed. Altogether, these studies involved a total of 887 participants. The analysis reveals a growing interest in VR and AR applications for medical training in LMICs with a peak in published articles in 2023, indicating an expanding research landscape. A unique contribution of this review is the integration of feedback from 35 medical students assessed through questionnaires, which demonstrates the perceived effectiveness of immersive technologies over traditional 2D illustrations in understanding complex medical concepts. Key findings highlight that VR and AR technologies in medical training within LMICs predominantly focus on surgical skills. The majority of studies focus on enhancing surgical training, particularly general surgery. This emphasis reflects the technology’s strong alignment with the needs of LMICs, where surgical skills training is often a priority. Despite the promising applications and expanding interest in VR and AR, significant challenges such as accessibility and device limitations remain, demonstrating the need for ongoing research and integration with traditional methods to fully leverage these technologies for effective medical education. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of existing VR and AR applications, their evaluation methodologies, and student perspectives to address educational challenges and enhance healthcare outcomes in LMICs.

Evolution of Immersive Technologies and Their Impact on Visitor Engagement in Cultural Heritage Sites

The cultural heritage sites, incorporating advanced technology and engaging activities have been demonstrated to enhance visitor attention and retention, resulting in more significant and unforgettable experiences. The evolution of immersive technologies, has significantly transformed visitor engagement in cultural heritage sites. This study investigates how these technologies increase visitor experience and engagement. The study utilizes Chi-square tests and ANCOVA and multiple linear regressions tests to examine the correlation between technology usage and visitor satisfaction, to identify key predictors of enhanced visitor interaction. The findings highlights the significant prospective of immersive technology enhances cultural heritage experiences, providing actionable insights for site managers and technology developers. The investigation highlights the renovate consequence of incorporating VR and AR technologies on visitor engagement at cultural heritage sites, enhancing satisfaction, and boosting return visits. It provides valuable recommendations for site managers and technology developers to enhance cultural heritage experiences.

Internment, immersive technology and historical empathy: Natal’s Fort Napier Camp (1914–1919) as a virtual reality experience

ABSTRACT The article presents a new way of reconstructing and representing the history of internment. It provides a critical academic framework for the authors’ virtual reality experience (VRE) Interned. Fort Napier Camp in South Africa held 2,500 civilians, mostly German ‘enemy aliens’, during the First World War. The VRE gives users an immersive experience of the camp and was produced through rigorous cross-sector collaboration between academia and industry. Based on user feedback, we argue that the empathy-related opportunities of VR create novel gateways to understanding experiences of minorities in wartime. Expanding the concept of ‘historical empathy’, we also argue that immersive technologies remain underused by historians.

Immersive Technologies as a Tool for Developing Competencies in Surgical Specialties

The main trends in higher medical education are practice-oriented approach, problem-based approach, immersive technologies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using the virtual multidisciplinary clinic "Dimedus" when conducting classes on the subjects "Surgical diseases in children" and "Pediatric surgery" for students, as well as residents. For the first time in the Siberian State Medical University, practical classes were conducted using the clinic "Dimedus". The results of the study revealed a positive perception, benefit and effectiveness of classes using immersion technologies.

Assessing Student-User Experience in Building Design Studios Using Advanced Intelligent Tools: A Pilot Study at the University

Recent advancements in technology have revolutionized various fields, including architecture education. However, studies exploring immersive realities in architectural design studios remain limited. This research addresses this gap by conducting a pilot study at the Architectural Engineering Intermediate Design Studio, which thoroughly explores the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to help architectural students enhance their design skills, detect design flaws and clashes between different systems, and provide valuable insights for the advancement of architectural education and practice. The study will adopt a qualitative methodology that utilizes in-depth interviews conducted with the students while they explore their designs using VR hardware. The research findings revealed the effectiveness of VR in identifying the following: Enhancing the visualization of design challenges, providing a comprehensive building assessment, and holistically detecting design qualities and system integration problems. The pilot study recommends integrating the use of VR into the curriculum of the intermediate design studio level at the University. The research findings will contribute to the current knowledge base and guide future advancements in immersive design technologies.

Navigating the Healthcare Metaverse: Immersive Technologies and Future Perspectives

Navigating the Healthcare Metaverse: Immersive Technologies and Future Perspectives

Harnessing the therapeutic effects of nature for chronic Pain: A role for immersive virtual reality? A narrative review.

There is a growing interest in the relationship between nature and pain relief. Evidence from environmental psychology, neuroscience and physiology-based studies point towards analgesic effects of nature being mediated through various cognitive, affective and/or autonomic factors. Being able to harness these therapeutic effects using immersive virtual reality (VR) could help to optimize and improve accessibility of nature-based environments as part of chronic pain management plans. In this narrative review, we present evidence supporting a new theoretical framework for nature-based analgesia and suggest ways for applying this through immersive VR. We provide an overview of the evidence on (1) the therapeutic effects of nature on pain, (2) environmental psychology theory that underpins the health benefits of nature, (3) key mechanistic evidence from nature neuroimaging and physiology-based studies, (4) previous studies that have used VR-based nature in pain research and (5) how to design effective VR interventions that can be used to integrate nature into immersive 360 environments. We have demonstrated how environmental psychology, neuroscience and physiology-based research can be used to form a novel theoretical framework for nature-based analgesia. Using this framework, we identify how key aspects of nature can act as analgesic and how this can be harnessed using immersive VR. Through developing this theoretical framework, we have provided a foundation on which to guide future experimental and clinical studies as well as helping to improve the accessibility of nature for chronic pain patients through immersive VR technologies. This review article summarizes key multidisciplinary evidence to help understand how nature exerts beneficial effects on pain processing. The use of this theoretical framework alongside advances in immersive VR technologies provides a springboard for future research and can be used to help develop new nature-based therapeutics using VR.