Virtual Experience Research Articles

Immersive Virtual Reality Decreases Work Rate and Manipulates Attentional Focus During Self-Regulated Vigorous Exercise

ABSTRACT To determine the effect of immersive virtual reality use on finishing time of a vigorous-intensity self-regulated exercise task, and on relevant psychological variables. Healthy untrained adults (N = 21; 10 men/11 women; age = 22.9 ± 7.2 years; BMI = 24.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2) completed 1500-m exercise bouts on a rowing ergometer in a counterbalanced and randomized order, with and without use of a headset-delivered virtual reality fitness program. Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, affective valence, and attentional focus were collected every 300 m, in addition to finishing time. Data were analyzed with repeated measures as appropriate. Intensity of both exercise bouts was considered vigorous according to heart rate results (>77% maximal heart rate). Finishing time was faster in the control condition (449.57 ± 82.39 s) than in the virtual reality condition (463.00 ± 91.78 s), p = .007. Compared to the control condition, the virtual reality condition was characterized by a more external attentional focus (52.38 ± 18.22 vs. 38.76 ± 17.81, p < .001). No differences were observed for remaining variables as a result of condition (p > .05 for all). When a headset-delivered VR program was used during a self-regulated vigorous-intensity exercise task, participants were 13.6 seconds (~3%) slower than in a control condition. Attentional focus was manipulated to be more external with VR use, which may have ultimately distracted from the exercise objective. Recommendations for selecting an appropriate virtual reality experience for a given exercise task are discussed.

Integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Autism Therapy

This concept note explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in autism therapy, aiming to enhance therapeutic outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). VR provides immersive, controlled environments for practicing social, cognitive, and motor skills, while AI offers personalized, adaptive learning experiences and real-time feedback. The synergy of these technologies promises innovative, effective interventions that cater to the unique needs of each child. This project proposes the development and evaluation of a VR-AI therapy platform, focusing on improving social interaction, communication, and daily living skills among young children with autism. The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into autism therapy offers a transformative approach to enhancing treatment effectiveness and accessibility. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior, requiring tailored therapeutic interventions. VR provides immersive environments where individuals with ASD can safely practice social scenarios, sensory processing, and daily living skills. AI, particularly through machine learning algorithms, can personalize these virtual experiences by adapting to the user's progress and specific needs, offering real-time feedback and data-driven insights for therapists. This concept note explores the synergistic potential of combining VR and AI in autism therapy. VR environments can be meticulously controlled and replicated, allowing for consistent therapeutic sessions. AI can analyze user interactions within these environments, providing granular data to refine treatment plans. The integration aims to make therapy more engaging, individualized, and scalable. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of traditional therapies but also addresses limitations such as therapist availability and the need for generalized settings. Furthermore, this technology-driven paradigm can democratize access to high-quality autism therapy, particularly in underserved regions. The proposed integration of VR and AI heralds a new era in autism therapy, promising improved outcomes and greater inclusivity.

A Review of Olfactory Display Designs for Virtual Reality Environments

The field of Virtual Reality continues to evolve to provide an ever-greater sense of immersion to the user. However, VR experiences are still primarily constrained through the human senses of vision and audition, with some interest in haptic (mainly vibrotactile) applications. Only recently have olfactory displays—technologies that generate and deliver scent stimuli—been examined to provide the sense of smell to the human olfactory organ in virtual environments. This article presents a classification and review of olfactory-enhanced virtual reality systems, particularly those that deployed a Head-mounted Display or Cave Automatic Virtual Environment system. In addition, the article provides a discussion of the various technological and design challenges for developing an olfactory display suitable for enhancing virtual reality experiences. Finally, the article proposes future perspectives on the field and includes a table summarizing the characteristics and features of the reviewed systems.

Do Virtual Reality Relaxation Experiences Alleviate Stress in Parents of Children with Autism? A Pilot Study

Psychotherapeutic interventions such as cognitive training and psychoeducation tend to be effective for alleviating stress in caregivers of children with autism. However, these interventions are often time consuming and take place outside the home, posing challenges for accessibility. Technology, especially virtual reality (VR) technology, can be used to support a range of digital interventions at home. VR headsets, when used to simulate relaxing experiences, have already been linked with stress relieving effects for some caregiving groups. This study builds on this, exploring whether VR simulated relaxing environments engender positive psychological changes for caregivers of children with autism. A total of 18 caregivers were exposed to VR simulated natural environments (e.g., beach, forest) for 15 min in a single session. State mood, captured with POMS, was measured at baseline and immediately post intervention. Perceived stress (PSS) was captured at baseline and, to explore intervention effectiveness, at three- and seven-days post intervention. POMS scores for tension, anger, depression, fatigue and confusion were lower, and scores for vigour higher, immediately post intervention. PSS scores at three-and seven-days post intervention, while comparable with one another, were lower compared with baseline. Interacting with simulated natural environments in VR seems effective for improving caregivers’ state mood and reducing their perceived stress for up to seven days. Future research should aim to consolidate and expand on these findings with larger samples and longer follow up periods.

Expanding the empirical study of virtual reality beyond empathy to compassion, moral reasoning, and moral foundations.

This study utilizes a controlled experimental design to investigate the influence of a virtual reality experience on empathy, compassion, moral reasoning, and moral foundations. With continued debate and mixed results from previous studies attempting to show relationships between virtual reality and empathy, this study takes advantage of the technology for its ability to provide a consistent, repeatable experience, broadening the scope of analysis beyond empathy. A systematic literature review identified the most widely used and validated moral psychology assessments for the constructs, and these assessments were administered before and after the virtual reality experience. The study is comprised of two pre-post experiments with student participants from a university in the United States. The first experiment investigated change in empathy and moral foundations among 44 participants, and the second investigated change in compassion and moral reasoning among 69 participants. The results showed no significant change in empathy nor compassion, but significant change in moral reasoning from personal interest to post-conventional stages, and significant increase in the Care/harm factor of moral foundations. By testing four of the primary constructs of moral psychology with the most widely used and validated assessments in controlled experiments, this study attempts to advance our understanding of virtual reality and its potential to influence human morality. It also raises questions about our self-reported assessment tools and provides possible new insights for the constructs examined.

Reverberation divergence in VR applications

This project aimed to investigate the correlation between virtual reality (VR) imagery and ambisonic sound. With the increasing popularity of VR applications, understanding how sound is perceived in virtual environments is crucial for enhancing the immersiveness of the experience. In the experiment, participants were immersed in a virtual environment that replicated a concert hall. Their task was to assess the correspondence between sound scenes (which differed in reverberation times and their characteristics) and the observed invariant visual scene. The research was conducted using paired tests. Participants were asked to identify the sound scene they considered more closely matched the concert hall seen in the VR goggles for each pair. Each sound scene differed in the employed impulse response. All the impulse responses were recorded in real venues such as concert halls, auditoriums, churches, etc. To provide a realistic auditory experience, the sound scenes were processed using third-order ambisonics and decoded using binaural techniques with HRTFs. The virtual concert hall was generated using the Unreal Engine and was the same for all the tests. One of the major conclusions drawn from the conducted research was confirming the role of spatial sound in creating immersive VR experiences. The study demonstrated that appropriately matching spatial sound to the VR visual scene is essential for achieving complete immersion. Additionally, expectations and preferences regarding reverberation characteristics in different types of spaces were discovered. These findings have significant implications for the design of virtual environments, and understanding these aspects can contribute to improving VR technology and creating more immersive and realistic virtual experiences for users.

Investigating the Effects of Virtual Laboratories on Students’ Motivation and Attitudes Toward Science

Allowing students to practice science inquiry in the classroom is fundamental for science education. Students should master investigation skills, promoting their understanding of science concepts. Virtual laboratories have emerged as a powerful interactive tool that can be a suitable alternative to real laboratories, especially when lacking enough equipment and safety measures. This mixed approach study investigates the effects of virtual science laboratories on students’ motivation and attitude toward science (ATS). Students (n = 237) from grades (7, 8, 9, 10, and 11) were surveyed to evaluate their virtual laboratory experience in an American curriculum private school in Dubai with the theoretical basis of motivation theories. The study reported that virtual laboratories positively impact students’ overall motivation in terms of intrinsic motivation, perceived usefulness (U), effort (E), perceived self-efficacy (SE), and ATS. Students, perceived SE and U significantly impact student attitudes toward science (p &lt; 0.001). Students’ perceived SE is a predictor of their E in the laboratory by 6.1%. Students with high SE put more E into completing a virtual laboratory task than students with low SE.

Identifying oncology caregivers' pretreatment educational and emotional needs to inform future virtual reality educational interventions.

To identify oncology caregivers' unmet educational needs for the development of a virtual reality experience. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used; data were collected via online surveys. Eighteen participants said their educational experiences were overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. They suggested a need to deliver educational information through different modalities and provide more clinician-based resources and support. This study identified opportunities to complement traditional pretreatment education tailored to the caregivers' needs and experiences, such as specific procedural information and emotional management while being a caregiver. Creating virtual reality experiences exclusively for oncology caregivers is a novel nurse-led approach that is currently not in existence.

QOL-49. BOOKS4BRAINS: PILOTING A COMMUNITY CIRCLE BOOK CLUB TO IMPROVE SELF EXPRESSION

Abstract BACKGROUND Children with brain or spinal cord tumors often have limited interactions with their primary care providers who focus on developmentally appropriate recommendations, including the assessment of literacy. Additionally, we know that children with brain or spinal cord tumors have neurocognitive disruptions secondary to their diagnosis. Due to their disease process, these children are at high-risk for learning difficulties. We want to assist in building their self-confidence and acceptance. The objective was to provide a monthly virtual experience that utilized books, creative writing, and illustration to build a community centered on trust, shared experiences, and discussions of social emotional tools. METHODS We aimed to enroll 40 total participants diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor who were followed by the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Hospital for Children. These participants were divided amongst two groups: 1st-3rd grade and 6th-8th grade. After final enrollment, we had a total of 30 participants that received the following supplies: a copy of each months book, an audio recording of each book, and creative writing and craft supplies for each session. RESULTS We held three monthly hour-long virtual sessions for each group on Saturday mornings. Ten total children were available to meet consistently over the two groups. Positive feedback we received included, “we loved it,” “everyone felt included in book time,” and “[it] was so helpful that the books were read out loud and it was amazing to have the read along aspect with it for her visual impairment.” We even heard from one caregiver that “[they] noticed that she has some more tools in her toolbox when she is facing a difficult day.” CONCLUSIONS A pilot community book club is feasible through community partnerships. We plan to build on this experience by focusing on improving consistent attendance in future sessions.

Presence, (re)focused and explicated

ABSTRACT This paper offers a revised conceptualization and categorization of presence, building upon Kwan Min Lee’s framework and reviewing related scholarships. The proposed approach emphasizes the afforded virtual experiences rather than the specific technologies and centers around a core definition of “presence” as the perceptual illusion of non-simulation and/or non-mediation. This revised framework encompasses a wide range of media technologies that reproduce activities, entities, or environments, excluding media narratives. By refining the understanding of presence, this paper aims to provide a more precise comprehension of the concept, its contributing factors, measurements, and the associated outcomes.

Exploring the Effects of Virtual Reality Brand Experiences on Customer Satisfaction: The Influence of Emotional and Cognitive Processes

Exploring the Effects of Virtual Reality Brand Experiences on Customer Satisfaction: The Influence of Emotional and Cognitive Processes

Virtual Experience Toolkit: An End-to-End Automated 3D Scene Virtualization Framework Implementing Computer Vision Techniques.

Virtualization plays a critical role in enriching the user experience in Virtual Reality (VR) by offering heightened realism, increased immersion, safer navigation, and newly achievable levels of interaction and personalization, specifically in indoor environments. Traditionally, the creation of virtual content has fallen under one of two broad categories: manual methods crafted by graphic designers, which are labor-intensive and sometimes lack precision; traditional Computer Vision (CV) and Deep Learning (DL) frameworks that frequently result in semi-automatic and complex solutions, lacking a unified framework for both 3D reconstruction and scene understanding, often missing a fully interactive representation of the objects and neglecting their appearance. To address these diverse challenges and limitations, we introduce the Virtual Experience Toolkit (VET), an automated and user-friendly framework that utilizes DL and advanced CV techniques to efficiently and accurately virtualize real-world indoor scenarios. The key features of VET are the use of ScanNotate, a retrieval and alignment tool that enhances the precision and efficiency of its precursor, supported by upgrades such as a preprocessing step to make it fully automatic and a preselection of a reduced list of CAD to speed up the process, and the implementation in a user-friendly and fully automatic Unity3D application that guides the users through the whole pipeline and concludes in a fully interactive and customizable 3D scene. The efficacy of VET is demonstrated using a diversified dataset of virtualized 3D indoor scenarios, supplementing the ScanNet dataset.

The Playful Karoo: Translating a South African Story into the Metaverse

ABSTRACT This research paper explores different game design methodologies that can be used to translate the South African novel Souvenir by Jane Rosenthal, set in the semi-desert region known as the Karoo into a Virtual Reality experience, which can live on the Metaverse. The paper suggests that the translated Virtual Reality experience can be used as a tool for climate change action and awareness, as well as a way to preserve South African stories on the Metaverse. The paper focuses on various narrative design methodologies for storytelling in game design, suggesting which would work best for the translation of a novel into a Virtual Reality experience. Additionally, it explores practical methodologies for the production of 3D game objects and assets required to recreate the Karoo landscape as described in the novel. This encompasses an exploratory excursion conducted within the Karoo region itself, wherein the collection of primary data is executed for the creation of game assets. Additionally, this involves a comprehensive examination of Henry Jenkins’ methodologies in game design, particularly focusing on narrative elements within gaming. A meaningful impact on the Metaverse is pursued through the translation of this Karoo-based South African novel, into Virtual Reality.

Smart city VR landscape planning and user virtual entertainment experience based on artificial intelligence

With the development of virtual reality technology, wearable visual devices and digital technology can provide users with intuitive virtual experiences, which can effectively improve the user experience of landscape planning. This article analyzes the VR landscape planning and user virtual entertainment experience of smart cities based on artificial intelligence. The application of this technology can also provide richer data support for urban landscape planning and design, allowing designers and planners to better utilize advanced technological means to optimize the planning and layout of urban landscapes. In the field of urban planning and design, artificial intelligence can be used to simulate street space architecture and urban pedestrian and vehicle behavior paths, evaluate the impact of planning and design schemes on the environment, transportation, and citizens, and effectively demonstrate the feasibility of implementing smart city planning schemes. Virtual landscape models utilize computer-generated 3D image technology to present real-world landscapes in a realistic manner. With the help of artificial intelligence technology, entertainment robots are able to interact with users in natural language and understand their needs and preferences. Through technologies such as deep learning and pattern recognition, entertainment robots can autonomously learn and recommend entertainment content suitable for users, further enhancing users’ virtual entertainment experience. Through virtual reality technology, immersive browsing and experience of landscapes can provide a more intuitive perceptual experience, and also enable decision-makers and the public to better understand the design and planning intentions of the landscape.

The overview effect and nature-relatedness

Climate scientists increasingly agree that human behavior significantly contributes to global warming and biodiversity decline. Recent research emphasizes the importance of human-nature connectedness as a reliable predictor of psychological wellbeing and increased engagement in pro-environmental behavior. While evidence supports a positive correlation between human-nature connectedness and pro-environmental behavior, establishing causation remains elusive. Nevertheless, exploring this link is crucial, given its potential to enhance pro-environmental behavior. Armed with this understanding, stakeholders can design and implement successful sustainability interventions that promote wellbeing on individual and collective levels. One psychological phenomenon believed to have a strong effect on human-nature connectedness and pro-environmental behavior is “The Overview Effect,” a term used to describe the shift in awareness some astronauts experience when viewing Earth from outside its atmosphere. This pilot study explored whether a 180-degree virtual reality Overview Effect experience created by EarthscapeVR® influences human-nature connectedness and whether a correlation exists between participants’ average human-nature connectedness scores and openness to experience scores. 60 student participants took part in the study. The results showed significant increases on human-nature connectedness (p &amp;lt; 0.0021) in the experimental condition compared to the control group (p = 0.97), with no correlation (r = 0.137) between participants’ average human-nature connectedness scores and openness to experience scores. While these results are not conclusive and further research is necessary, the initial findings support translating the Overview Effect into virtual reality to promote human-nature connectedness in people.

Design and teaching application of a virtual simulation training system for bridge engineering drawing recognition based on Unity3D

In response to the common issues in practical training in vocational engineering construction courses, such as dangerous operation of training equipment, insufficient number of training equipment, and ineffective teaching, a vivid and interactive virtual simulation training system was developed using Unity3D software, taking the U-shaped bridge abutment in the course of Bridge Engineering as an example. Detailed introduction to the development and design process of 3D model establishment, ZSpace device adaptation, file format conversion, model rendering and disassembly, model zooming in and out, script writing and function implementation, UI interface design, etc., in order to achieve immersive interaction functions such as free observation, assembly disassembly, and ZSpace integrated VR virtual experience in the virtual simulation training system. The practical results show that the interactive effect simulated through the simulation training system is superior to that of the physical system, which can enhance the sense of experience, improve learning enthusiasm, and deepen the understanding of the knowledge points in Bridge Engineering Drawing Recognition. After the system is successfully established and applied in the training and teaching process, it will provide an important reference for the training and teaching of relevant courses for students majoring in road and bridge engineering, and also enhance the cultivation of high-quality skilled personnel in engineering majors in vocational colleges.

Design and development of a space suit mock-up for VR-based EVA research and simulation

Earth-based Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) simulation has always been the subject of study by space agencies aimed at reproducing the most accurate experience for astronauts. Challenges and limitations are many and not limited to the natural Laws; the space suit system, an integral part of the successful Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA), must present the same conditions to the user as it would in the environment of operation. NASA is the most prominent example of a long tradition for a faithful simulation of outer space in which astronauts operate during EVAs: the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center in Houston still represents the standard when it comes to providing astronauts with a realistic experience. However, such infrastructures can be difficult to access, considering the renewed interest in space, which is advocated by new private players looking into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) access in the short to medium term. Virtual Reality (VR) provides users with new, flexible, and relatively inexpensive ways of simulating the space environment during an EVA, without the need to build large-scale pools and mock-ups of vehicles. In this paper, it'll be shown how the Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA) at the University of Houston is working to provide students and researchers with a Virtual Reality (VR)-based infrastructure to simulate EVAs and Space Architectures, which are also designed in-situ. An essential component to achieve realism of experience is the design and construction, done entirely in-house, of a mock-up of the latest NASA Artemis Exploration Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) space suit, to recreate the physical constraints that such a garment imposes on astronauts, which cannot be entirely simulated with VR. It'll be shown how this space suit replica substantially enhances the accuracy of the experience, by replicating the mechanisms of the xEMU suit, complementing the virtual experience provided at the same time.

Immersive Engagement: The Role of Hedonic Motivation in Shaping Virtual Event Experiences

Immersive Engagement: The Role of Hedonic Motivation in Shaping Virtual Event Experiences

NGO Automation Suite with RPA

Abstract: The COVID-19 outbreak has forced every NGO to operate with reduced manpower and facing lot of operational challenges. Every NGO is trying to automate end to end process of campaign outreach, Donation management, Report generation, KYC Verification and Customer email query automation. This virtual registration experience will help NGO to collect, manage and update registration details easily for multiple campaigns. User will receive automated email with KYC verification, Hospital Appointment and Certificate of Appreciation.

Being virtual together: creating connection in dist[Sense]

ABSTRACT This co-authored paper is a reflection on our collective and individual experiences creating and performing in dist[Sense], a virtual performance experience for one audience-participant and one performer-participant to be present together in a single Zoom box. dist[Sense] was created as a reaction to global stay-at-home orders and a widely shared sense of isolation and need for human connection during the summer of 2020. Using Zoom Telematics, dist[Sense] created a shared virtual space in which the performer-participant and audience-participant could be co-present. Through writing this performance reflection, we (the creative team) have wrestled with our own definitions of presence. What does it mean to be both materially alone and virtually together? Can we really achieve shared meaning with another? Or is the experience of mutual understanding a projection of our thoughts and desires? Although these questions exist in Face-to-Face interactions, the virtual shared space of dist[Sense] brought their urgency to the forefront. In dist[Sense], the medium became the message: the medium of Zoom became the meaning we learned about – how to connect in virtual space. Through the creation and performance of dist[Sense], we each found our own way to be present and find connection in a time of mass isolation.