Level Of Immersion Research Articles

Becoming Breadthrog: Role-playing games, metacognition and the creative writer

All fiction writers work with characters, and many deploy metaphors to describe this relationship: characters may be tools, friends or voices in the writer’s head. These are vivid images but unsuitable for understanding a past writer’s thought process or advising a future writer. This article takes a practical and cognitive approach to the writer-character relationship. We consider a writer’s approach to character as a form of problem-solving and use metacognitive science to understand why a writer chooses a particular level of immersion within a character and how they instinctively or strategically move between different cognitive and emotional frames. While literary and creative writing studies lack the precise language to describe these levels of immersion, a useful parallel exists in game studies. We draw on the sociology of role-playing games to understand and describe the relationship between the creator and the fictional character. Combining insights from game studies and metacognitive psychology, we propose a three-level model of the creative writer’s cognitive relationship with their fictional characters, ranging from full immersion to critical distance. Our model serves two purposes: its specific language can illuminate further studies of character writing and shape targeted interventions to assist creative writers struggling with questions of character.

Metaverse Insights: Research Advancements, Innovation Trends and Industry Implications

The metaverse is a universe of communication across boundaries. The provision of new experiences with the highest level of immersion through virtualisation, a greater degree of flexibility to produce and distribute information, and a space for new social communication all occur here. With the aid of technology and gadgets, people can engage digitally and visually in the virtual environment provided by metaverse. It is considered to be an ‘extension of the internet’ in fact. The metaverse has no restrictions based on location. It is based on an ‘immersive digital environment’ that is unbroken, without constraints and without borders. Although it seems like something out of a science fiction film or book, it is actually the way that communication will be done in the future. This article is an attempt to analyse the selective literature from the Scopus database to form an opinion about what can be the trends of research in metaverse and what are the areas of applicability of this phenomenon in business scenarios. It highlights the research areas mushrooming in the field of metaverse.

Guide Dog AR: A Tactile and Auditory Assisting Device Design with the Motif of a Guide Dog for the Visually Impaired

This study introduces “Guide Dog AR,” an AR device inspired by the handle of a guide dog’s harness. The device and its associated content aim to provide visually impaired individuals with the experience of walking with a guide dog, serving as both a practical tool and a foundation for entertainment. The device offers an augmented walking experience through tactile and auditory sensations. The device was assessed with the factors "effectiveness" and "immersiveness." The evaluation for effectiveness involved creating a simulated virtual path. The level of immersion was evaluated based on how deeply users were engrossed in the augmented content provided by the device. The success rate was determined by how well users navigated this virtual path using the device’s feedback. In assessing immersion, in-depth interviews were conducted with visually impaired participants who experienced the virtual path. These interviews compared their experiences to actual walks with guide dogs, discussing similarities, differences, and overall immersion.

Immersive Robot Teleoperation Based on User Gestures in Mixed Reality Space.

Recently, research has been conducted on mixed reality (MR), which provides immersive visualization and interaction experiences, and on mapping human motions directly onto a robot in a mixed reality (MR) space to achieve a high level of immersion. However, even though the robot is mapped onto the MR space, their surrounding environment is often not mapped sufficiently; this makes it difficult to comfortably perform tasks that require precise manipulation of the objects that are difficult to see from the human perspective. Therefore, we propose a system that allows users to operate a robot in real space by mapping the task environment around the robot on the MR space and performing operations within the MR space.

Integrating building information modelling (BIM) and extended reality (XR) in the transportation infrastructure industry

Although building information modelling (BIM) has been widely used in the building industry, its usage in infrastructure projects such as bridges has been very challenging. Extended Reality (XR) that simulates a construction project is still considered a new technology in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. This paper investigates the viability of integrating both BIM and XR technologies into transportation infrastructure projects. A fully integrated workflow for introducing different XR, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), and BIM technologies using different software for a case study of El-Merghani bridge, a reinforced concrete girder type bridge, was developed. The models for the bridge included GIS integration and geometric road design according to AASHTO, documentation, shop drawings and quantification were developed for the bridge. A hypothetical time schedule was generated in Oracle Primavera P6 elevating the BIM model to 4-D and developing VR and AR virtual experiences with the capability to investigate, visualize, and present the model in a virtual environment, at a high level of immersion. Additionally, the associated risk reduction for the considered XR technology was assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. The workflow and the detailed 3D models developed for the bridge along with the highly immersive VR and AR experiences have provided an interactive platform for engineers and different stakeholders to monitor the project during the design and construction phases. The risk analysis showed that significant cost savings can be achieved with the utilization of VR and AR technology in bridges construction.

Impact of virtual reality experiences on destination image and visit intentions: the moderating effects of immersion, destination familiarity and sickness

PurposeThe aims of this study are to explore how the experience of “visiting” a destination in a virtual reality (VR) technology environment influences destination image and visit intentions and to evaluate the moderating effects of the immersion level of the technology, destination familiarity and VR sickness.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study was conducted in a laboratory, using two types of immersive VR technologies. The data, collected through a personal survey of 144 participants, were analysed using PLS-SEM.FindingsThe results indicated that sense of presence is a crucial determinant of the user’s experience, which in turn contributed positively to destination image and visit intentions. VR sickness was observed to moderate the relationship between sense of presence and user experience, especially at low immersion levels. Destination familiarity did not influence the model’s relationships.Practical implicationsThe findings lead us to propose that tourism destination managers: use immersive VR technologies in their marketing strategies; in these VR scenarios enhance the user’s sense of presence and experience and implement segmentation strategies.Originality/valueThis is one of the first works to empirically analyse how the customer’s experience of immersive technologies affects destination image and visit intentions. The study also evaluates three moderating effects: the effects of the level of immersion evoked by the technology, and destination familiarity, on the model’s relationships, and the effects of a negative aspect of the technology, VR sickness, on the relationship between sense of presence and the customer experience.

Virtual Empathy: Usability and Immersivity of a VR System for Enhancing Social Cohesion through Cultural Heritage

In this paper we describe and evaluate a VR application, designed with a novel approach that allows personalized interaction and a more immersive virtual experience. This VR system uses both a user-based methodology in which the user expresses his/her emotions by interacting directly with the environment; and an artificial intelligence-driven methodology that is based on automated language systems able to detect user emotion and moral values from verbal speech. In this study we evaluated the usability and immersivity of our system on a sample of 30 museum visitors. The results indicate that our application is easy and pleasant to use for visitors, and that positive assessments are significantly associated with the level of immersion and realism experienced within the virtual environment. Additionally, we found a low incidence of motion sickness among users.

Wpływ narzędzi cyfrowych na zarządzanie dobrostanem użytkowników na przykładzie aplikacji Kwarantanna Domowa

The subject of the article is to draw attention to the aspect of mental well-being of users in the context of digital technology during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The article presents the perspective of the critical trend along with the author’s own empirical research. The study used qualitative techniques in the form of interviews with people using the government application during quarantine Home Quarantine (several case studies) as part of the so-called incidental trial. The purpose of the work is to show attempts to maintain mental well-being and the impact on this well-being of the respondents through the Home Quarantine application in the context of creating a new pandemic imagination and the phenomena and consequences related to it, indicated. By the respondents. The study will discuss human relations with “Others” and the aspect of digital media management, focusing on the well-being of users of the Home Quarantine application, which will allow for a partial understanding of aspects related to the quality of recipients’ well-being and the balance in their level of immersion during the coronavirus pandemic, i.e. a time of increased demand and a surge in digital goods.

The effect of players' ability to resist monsters on immersion and fear in survival horror games

Horror survival games, as a crucial segment of the video game industry, are highly regrded for their ability to evoke excitement, suspense and the challenge of overcoming obstacles and fears through wit and skill. This study delves into the impact of players' ability to confront monsters in horror survival games on their level of immersion and fear, and how these two psychological states mutually enhance the gaming experience. This research applies Python for natural language processing analyses, including sentiment analysis, keyword frequency analysis, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, and K-Means clustering to uncover the main trends in player feedback, which is based on 5,000 user comments scraped from the Steam platform on two famous horror games, "Resident Evil 7" and "Outlast 2." Additionally, data on players' personal experiences of fear and immersion in the games are collected through surveys. The results show that the sensation of fear and successfully confronting monsters significantly enhances players' immersion of being completely engaged in the game, highlighting the importance of balancing challenge and player's ability to make choices in game design. This study provides valuable insights into understanding the psychological dynamics of players in horror survival games, guiding game designers and developers on how to create more engaging and satisfying gaming experiences that meet players' requirements.

From a traditional university to the development of the metaverse: network and target effects

Digital and information technologies are driving changes in traditional business models. Depending on the level of immersion in the digital environment, they are transformed into other formats: from offline business with a "digital shadow" to the creation of platforms and metaverse based on them. The study deals with the economic and target effects arising from the transition of a traditional university to the network business model of an educational metaverse. The concept of network economy and the theory of business models served as a methodological basis; general scientific research methods were used in the paper. Substantive changes in the business model of the university are clarified, the key differences of the educational metaverse are highlighted. The economic efficiency of the metaverse is achieved through the realization of network benefits, which, in turn, transforms the opportunities for achieving its mission as target efficiency.

Integrating mixed reality preparation into acute coronary syndrome simulation for nursing students: a single-group pretest-posttest study

BackgroundTimely and effective intervention within the ‘golden hour’—the critical first 90 min after the symptom onset—is crucial for initiating life-saving treatment and reducing mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This highlights the need for nursing students to be proficient in ACS care, emphasizing the importance of preparatory training. This study enhanced traditional simulation methods by integrating a mixed reality (MR) preparation step, offering a more immersive learning experience. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating MR preparation into ACS simulation education, focusing on enhancements in knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in learning. Additionally, we examined performance, practice immersion, and satisfaction to comprehensively evaluate the MR application.MethodsOne-group pretest-posttest design was implemented in a convenience sample of thirty-nine senior nursing students from a university in South Korea in August 2022. We developed a simulation program integrating MR preparation into ACS simulation (IMRP-ACSS), which was validated through expert review for content validity. The students participated in the simulation program over six hours across two days, including a 40-minute individual session of MR-based simulation preparation using head-mounted displays (the HoloLens 2). Individual changes in knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in learning evaluated by the survey were analyzed using paired t-tests. Additionally, group performance assessed using the checklist was analyzed. Immersion and satisfaction were measured with a tool and a 10-point Likert scale, respectively.ResultsIndividually, participants demonstrated significantly increased knowledge (t = 11.87, p < .001), self-confidence in learning (t = 7.17, p < .001), and self-efficacy in learning (t = 4.70, p < .001) post-education. Group performance yielded a mean score of 56.43/70 ± 7.45. Groups scored higher in electrocardiogram interpretation, patient safety, and heparin administration. Participants reported a practice immersion level of 37.82/50 ± 9.13 and expressed satisfaction with the program, achieving an average score of 8.85/10 ± 1.35.ConclusionIntegrating MR preparation into ACS simulation enhanced nursing students’ knowledge, self-confidence in learning, and self-efficacy in ACS care, providing a replicable and immersive learning experience. This method is an effective addition to nursing education, preparing students through comprehensive, technology-enhanced training.

Age-related differences in subjective and physiological emotion evoked by immersion in natural and social virtual environments

Age-related changes in emotional processing are complex, with a bias toward positive information. However, the impact of aging on emotional responses in positive everyday situations remains unclear. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for investigating emotional processing, offering a unique balance between ecological validity and experimental control. Yet, limited evidence exists regarding its efficacy to elicit positive emotions in older adults. Our study aimed to explore age-related differences in positive emotional responses to immersion in both social and nonsocial virtual emotional environments. We exposed 34 younger adults and 24 older adults to natural and social 360-degree video content through a low immersive computer screen and a highly immersive Head-Mounted Display, while recording participants' physiological reactions. Participants also provided self-report of their emotions and sense of presence. The findings support VR’s efficacy in eliciting positive emotions in both younger and older adults, with age-related differences in emotional responses influenced by the specific video content rather than immersion level. These findings underscore the potential of VR as a valuable tool for examining age-related differences in emotional responses and developing VR applications to enhance emotional wellbeing across diverse user populations.

Exploring Relations Between Unique Patient Characteristics and Virtual Reality Immersion Level on Anxiety and Pain in Patients Undergoing Venipuncture: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Control Trial.

Virtual reality (VR) is a well-researched digital intervention that has been used for managing acute pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing various medical procedures. This study focuses on investigating the role of unique patient characteristics and VR immersion level on the effectiveness of VR for managing pediatric pain and anxiety during venipuncture. The purpose of this study is to determine how specific patient characteristics and level of immersion during a VR intervention impact anxiety and pain levels for pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture procedures. This study is a secondary data analysis of 2 combined, previously published randomized control trials on 252 pediatric patients aged 10-21 years observed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles from April 12, 2017, to July 24, 2019. One randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 clinical environments examining peripheral intravenous catheter placement (radiology and an infusion center) and blood draw (phlebotomy). Conditional process analysis was used to conduct moderation and mediation analyses to assess the impact of immersion level during the VR intervention. Significant moderation was found between the level of immersion and anxiety sensitivity when predicting postprocedural anxiety (P=.01). Patients exhibiting the highest anxiety sensitivity within the standard of care yielded a 1.9 (95% CI 0.9-2.8; P<.001)-point elevation in postprocedural anxiety relative to individuals with high immersion levels. No other significant factors were found to mediate or moderate the effect of immersion on either postprocedural anxiety or pain. VR is most effective for patients with higher anxiety sensitivity who report feeling highly immersed. Age, location of the procedure, and gender of the patient were not found to significantly impact VR's success in managing levels of postprocedural pain or anxiety, suggesting that immersive VR may be a beneficial intervention for a broad pediatric population. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04268901; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04268901.

Learning in the spherical video-based virtual reality context: effects of immersion level and spatial ability on learning performance and experience

ABSTRACT Spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) is an emerging technology in the creation of virtual reality learning contexts. Existing studies have shown that immersion level and spatial ability affect learning performance and experience. Different levels of spatial ability also result in different learning performances and experiences in different levels of immersion, but this interaction effect remains unclear in the SVVR context. We conducted a 2 × 2 factorial experimental study to investigate the interactive effect of immersion level (high vs. low) and students’ spatial ability (high vs. low) on learning performance and experience in the SVVR context. A total of 120 college students participated in the study. The results showed that learning performance, presence, and motivation were significantly higher for high immersion than for low immersion. Learning performance was significantly higher for learners with high spatial ability than for those with low spatial ability. There was a significant interaction effect between immersion level and spatial ability on learning performance. The learning performance of learners with low spatial ability was significantly higher at high immersion than at low immersion. These findings provide a reference for educators to better apply SVVR to their teaching and help them personalize their instruction to students.

DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMUM DESIGN OF THE MEANS TO ENSURE FUEL CONTINUITY USING THE METHOD OF NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Residues of liquid propellant components in the power system of the propulsion system at the end of the operation of the launch vehicle stage significantly affect its energy characteristics. The fuel continuity features found in modern launch vehicle tanks ensure a continuous supply of propellant components from the tank to the propulsion system without disrupting flow and mini- mizing residues. In the fuel tank of launch vehicles, the presence of a tunnel pipeline complicates, and in certain cases excludes the possibility of taking fuel from the pole of the tank. Solving the problem of fuel intake, in this case, allows the use of means to ensure the continuity of fuel of the side type. However, the use of such a device, due to the displacement relative to the pole of the bottom of the tank by a certain angle of the sampling point, can lead to an uneven level of breakthrough and immersion of the boost gas at the inlet to the flow line and, as a result, a significant increase in the remainder of the fuel components. The authors searched for and substantiated the optimal design of the means for ensuring fuel continuity on the example of the fuel tank of the first stage of the Cyclone-4 launch vehicle, which is equipped with a side-type fuel continuity means in the form of a profiled plate (plate). The designs of siphon and annular fuel continuity means are considered. An analytical calculation was carried out using empirical dependences, a physical experiment, and a numerical simulation of their main parameters. Based on the work performed, a comparative analysis of the change in the energy characteristics of the launch vehicle depending on the chosen design was carried out. The efficiency of the operation of the considered means of ensuring the continuity of the fuel is determined in terms of the mass parameter of the remainder of the propellant components under static conditions. The result of the experimental and computational-analytical work was to obtain the most optimal variant of the fuel continuity means, which turned out to be a siphon according to several parameters. The introduction of a siphon means of ensuring continuity, as more optimal, into the design of the fuel tank of the Cyclone-4 launch vehicle will improve its energy characteristics by increasing the mass of the output payload by 5.4 kg. Also, using the numerical modeling methods (CFD methods) for design work on devel- opment, optimization, and improvement, instead of empirical and semi-empirical dependencies, allows you to: obtain more accurate results; reduce the number of experimental designs; reduce the required number of tests; reduce the duration of exami- nations; reduce the total duration of computational and design and experimental work; reduce the overall material and technical costs and, as a result, reduce the final cost of the development product, which will increase its competitiveness.

Introduction to the Special Thematic Issue "Virtual Reality and Eye Tracking".

Technological advancements have made it possible to integrate eye tracking in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Many new VR/AR headsets already include eye tracking as a standard feature. While its application previously has been mostly limited to research, we now see installations of eye tracking into consumer level VR products in entertainment, training, and therapy. The combination of eye tracking and VR creates new opportunities for end users, creators, and researchers alike: The high level of immersion – while shielded from visual distractions of the physical environment – leads to natural behavior inside the virtual environment. This enables researchers to study how humans perceive and interact with three-dimensional environments in experimentally controlled, ecologically valid settings. Simultaneously, eye tracking in VR poses new challenges to gaze analyses and requires the establishment of new tools and best practices in gaze interaction and psychological research from controlling influence factors, such as simulator sickness, to adaptations of algorithms in various situations. This thematic special issue introduces and discusses novel applications, challenges and possibilities of eye tracking and gaze interaction in VR from an interdisciplinary perspective, including contributions from the fields of psychology, human-computer interaction, human factors, engineering, neuroscience, and education. It addresses a variety of issues and topics, such as practical guidelines for VR-based eye tracking technologies, exploring new research avenues, evaluation of gaze-based assessments, and training interventions.

The Role of Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions in Pediatric Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review across Motor and Cognitive Domains.

Background: In recent years, new technologies have been applied in cerebral palsy. Among these, immersive virtual reality is one with promising motor and cognitive effects along with the reduced costs of its application. The level of immersion of the subject in the illusional world gives the feeling of being a real part of the virtual environment. This study aims to investigate the safety and the efficacy of immersive virtual reality in children affected by cerebral palsy. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, RehabData, and Web of Science were screened up to February 2023 to identify eligible clinical studies. Results: Out of 788, we included 15 studies involving CP patients. There was high heterogeneity in the outcomes considered, and the results showed non-inferiority to conventional therapy and initial additional benefits in comparison with conventional rehabilitation. Conclusions: Immersive virtual reality emerges as a pivotal technological tool in rehabilitation, seamlessly integrating with conventional therapy within CP rehabilitation programs. Indeed, it not only enhances motivation but significantly increases children's functional capacity and abilities.

Biomarkers of Immersion in Virtual Reality Based on Features Extracted from the EEG Signals: A Machine Learning Approach.

Virtual reality (VR) enables the development of virtual training frameworks suitable for various domains, especially when real-world conditions may be hazardous or impossible to replicate because of unique additional resources (e.g., equipment, infrastructure, people, locations). Although VR technology has significantly advanced in recent years, methods for evaluating immersion (i.e., the extent to which the user is engaged with the sensory information from the virtual environment or is invested in the intended task) continue to rely on self-reported questionnaires, which are often administered after using the virtual scenario. Having an objective method to measure immersion is particularly important when using VR for training, education, and applications that promote the development, fine-tuning, or maintenance of skills. The level of immersion may impact performance and the translation of knowledge and skills to the real-world. This is particularly important in tasks where motor skills are combined with complex decision making, such as surgical procedures. Efforts to better measure immersion have included the use of physiological measurements including heart rate and skin response, but so far they do not offer robust metrics that provide the sensitivity to discriminate different states (idle, easy, and hard), which is critical when using VR for training to determine how successful the training is in engaging the user's senses and challenging their cognitive capabilities. In this study, electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected from 14 participants who completed VR jigsaw puzzles with two different levels of task difficulty. Machine learning was able to accurately classify the EEG data collected during three different states, obtaining accuracy rates of 86% and 97% for differentiating easy versus hard difficulty states and baseline vs. VR states. Building on these results may enable the identification of robust biomarkers of immersion in VR, enabling real-time recognition of the level of immersion that can be used to design more effective and translative VR-based training. This method has the potential to adjust aspects of VR related to task difficulty to ensure that participants are immersed in VR.

A review of published studies on virtual reality in sexuality research.

Virtual reality (VR) technology contributes to greater approach of methodological safety to make ecological validity more feasible and a growing interest in sexuality behaviors. The aim of this study was to show VR in the sexuality area by a comprehensive review of outcomes, offer a synthesis of the studies, and make a methodological quality assessment of finding results. A secondary goal was to investigate the effect of immersion on diverse sexual responses outcomes. We designed a review based on a systematic review strategy describing types of studies, participants, data collection and outcomes; searched in 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and SciELO), and made a full-text screening process. The study found 18 articles that met research criteria synthesized within 3 outcome groups: erection measures, level of immersion, and biomarker studies. Synthesis shows a lack of methodological aspects that impair results, such as description of methods from bias protection, randomization, or concealment. The literature still needs to improve its methodology, even though it already shows relevant data for intervention in sexual dysfunction, forensic psychiatry, sexual attraction, orientation, and use of pornography. Current methodological issues need better design to highlight relevant issues in sexuality with stronger quality of design, opening boundaries to new diagnostic or interventional technologies to sexual health.

Passive Haptics and Conversational Avatars for Interacting with Ancient Egypt Remains in High-Fidelity Virtual Reality Experiences

As extended reality continues to grow, new possibilities arise to provide users with novel ways to experience cultural heritage (CH). In particular, applications based on virtual reality (VR), such as virtual museums, have gained increasing popularity, since they can offer new ways for preserving and presenting CH content that are not feasible in physical museums. Despite the numerous benefits, the level of immersion and presence provided by VR experiences still present challenges that could hinder the effectiveness of this technology in the CH context. In this perspective, it is crucial to provide the users with high-fidelity experiences, in which also the interaction with the objects and the characters populating virtual environments are realistic and natural. This article focuses on this challenge and specifically investigates how the combined use of tangible and speech interfaces can help improve the overall experience. To this aim, a immersive VR experience is proposed, which allows the users to manipulate virtual objects belonging to a museum collection (in the specific case, Ancient Egypt remains) by physically operating on 3D printed replicas and to talk with a curator’s avatar to get explanations by using their voice. A user study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the considered interfaces on immersion, presence, user experience, usability, and intention to visit, comparing the richest configuration against simpler setups obtained by either removing the tangible interface, the speech interface, or both (and using only handheld controllers). The results show that the combined use of the two interfaces can effectively contribute at making the CH experience in VR more engaging.