Virtual Reality Content Research Articles

The effect of virtual reality for anxiety and pain in dentistry: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to assess the impact of virtual reality (VR) on reducing anxiety and pain in dental patients across all age groups and dental procedures. Systematic review with comprehensive search of PubMed and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing VR interventions with non-VR methods in dental settings up to April 2024. The selection followed the PRISMA-P guidelines. Inclusion criteria were based on the PICOS framework, focusing on studies involving dental patients of any age, utilizing VR during dental treatments, and reporting outcomes on anxiety and pain. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed independently by two reviewers using the ROB-2 tool and GRADE methodology. Meta-analyses used a random-effects model. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing several dental treatments. In meta-analysis VR reduced anxiety in children (SMD -1.44, 95% CI -2.24 to -0.63) but not adults (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -1.11 to 0.4). For pain reduction, VR was effective in both children (SMD -1.11, 95% CI -1.65 to -0.57) and adults (SMD -0.59, 95% CI -1.187 to -0.001). Heterogeneity was high across studies, and evidence quality ranged from low to moderate. VR is a promising intervention for reducing anxiety and pain in children during dental procedures. Its effectiveness in adults is limited to pain reduction. High heterogeneity and risk of bias suggest that findings should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed to standardize VR content and explore its varying impacts across different age groups and dental procedures.

Pre-service Elementary Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge in Lesson Planning and Post-lesson Reflection Discourses on Science Classes Using Virtual and Augmented Reality Content

Pre-service Elementary Teachers’ Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge in Lesson Planning and Post-lesson Reflection Discourses on Science Classes Using Virtual and Augmented Reality Content

My virtual escape from patient life: a feasibility study on the experiences and benefits of individualized virtual reality for inpatients in palliative cancer care

BackgroundCancer patients benefit from Virtual Reality (VR) in burdensome situations, but evidence is scarce for palliative situations. Based on earlier work in palliative care, individualized VR interventions like seeing the patient’s home may address a patient’s wish to be at home and thus have a greater effect compared to standard VR content. Yet, some patients and relatives may be concerned about their privacy. Also, patient stakeholders raised concerns about triggering depressed mood or homesickness.AimTo test the feasibility and safety of individualized vs. standard 360°video VR interventions in palliative cancer inpatients.MethodsProspective observational study with patient-reported outcome measurement using validated instruments of well-being (MDBF), symptoms and psychosocial burden (IPOS), cybersickness (SSQ), presence experience (SPES), subjective benefit (2 items), content analysis of interviews, and field notes. Individualized VR content was recorded with action camcorder-technology to protect the patients’ privacy.ResultsSeventeen patients participated, median age 65 years (range 20–82), 9 women (53%), 8 single or widowed (47%), 4 childless (23.5%), 4 academics (23.5%), with a median length of stay of 9 days (1–75) in the hematology (10), palliative care (3), or radiotherapy (2) unit of a German university hospital. Eight patients (53.3%) chose their own home environments or family for individualized VR-content. All participants enjoyed the intervention. Compared to standard VR content the individualized VR tended to have a stronger effect on well-being and emotional touch. It was not inferior in terms of psychosocial burden and cybersickness. No subjective and relevant side effects occurred. The patients well tolerated the assessments. However, most patients demanded a lighter headset and a desire for more interactivity.ConclusionsIndividualization of VR content shows potential for enhancement of immersion, which improves the VR experience and does not harm in terms of depressed mood or worsening of symptoms. The patients’ and family desire for privacy is feasible with the support of family members who recorded the individualized videos, which is easily manageable today. We suggest a pragmatic randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of individualized vs. standard VR-content.Trial registrationRegistered at German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; DRKS); registration number: DRKS00032172; registration date: 11/07/2023.

Harnessing the Power of VR and AR Technologies in Internet Celebrity Marketing and User Interaction

The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies into internet celebrity marketing offers unprecedented opportunities for enhancing user engagement, personalizing user experiences, and creating interactive content. This paper explores how VR and AR can revolutionize user interaction by providing immersive experiences and valuable data collection capabilities. By examining various applications, including virtual events, AR advertisements, and branded experiences, we highlight the significant business opportunities these technologies present for internet celebrities and brands. The ability to monetize VR and AR content, combined with insights gained from data analysis, drives innovative marketing strategies and fosters deeper connections with audiences. Through collaborations between internet celebrities, brands, and tech companies, the potential of VR and AR to transform digital marketing and engagement is immense, offering exciting new avenues for growth and success.

Pictures in our heads: Politics of space, time, and memory in Polish virtual reality storyworlds

This article examines the entangled politics of space, time and memory in the virtual realm of extended reality (XR). The illiberal right-wing Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) has been investing in the creation and dissemination of virtual reality (VR) content centred on historical themes since 2018. By mapping out the experiential geography of populism in virtual places, the article aims to identify the main features of this new immersive mode of politics. The article argues three main points on space, time, and memory: (1) in VR, places are storylived spaces that are conceived and designed by their creators to elicit a specific sense of place, accompanied by specific emotions and thoughts; (2) from an experiential point of view, the past does not exist in VR, only the virtual present, turning VR into a contemporary technology of myth-making and myth-living; (3) since VR experiences become integrated into the autobiographical memory, VR is a technology that shapes the self. In effect, VR storyworlds establish places for the embodied rehearsal of cultural memory narratives.

The impact of virtual reality exposure on ocean connectedness and consumer responses to single-use packaging

Efforts to mitigate plastic packaging pollution include behavioural strategies aimed at shifting consumer perceptions and behaviour. Connectedness to nature, and more recently ocean connectedness, has been associated with pro-environmental intentions regarding single-use packaging. Two experimental studies were conducted to examine the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in promoting ocean connectedness and shifting consumer perceptions around packaging and its environmental qualities.To assess the influence of the VR content, in Study 1 (n = 94), participants were briefly exposed to an oceanic VR environment or an urban VR experience. Levels of ocean connectedness, both explicit and implicit, were measured after the VR manipulation using an Inclusion of Nature in Self (INS) measure and an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Participants then rated a variety of packaging options that were systematically manipulated in terms of type of raw material (e.g. plastic) and recyclability. The ocean VR condition showed higher levels of ocean connectedness on the adapted explicit INS measure, but not on the IAT measure, and there were no differences between the conditions in perceptions around packaging materials.Study 2 (n = 118) expanded on the previous study by adding a third condition: the participants were exposed to an oceanic VR environment, a built VR environment, or a non-VR task (cognitive task). The ocean VR condition showed higher levels of explicit ocean connectedness, as measured with the INS, than the other two conditions, but again there were no differences in implicit ocean connectedness. However, the ocean VR condition showed more critical perceptions around packaging overall in comparison to the built VR condition. We conclude that a brief immersive oceanic VR experience can influence explicit ocean connectedness, as measured with the INS, but its influence on packaging perceptions was more limited.

Investigation of the effect of the alignment of the eye and the virtual image of virtual reality on fatigue in viewing VR device

AbstractCybersickness is a major problem hindering the use of fully immersive virtual reality (VR) systems. A mismatch between the interpupillary distance (IPD) and the inter‐optical system distance (IOSD) can cause discomfort when using VR devices. To solve this, the IOSD must be aligned according to the user's IPD. Herein, we investigated the effects of the optimum alignment of IPD and IOSD on eye fatigue when using VR systems. A method was used such that the IPD and IOSD for each participant were initially aligned under the condition that binocular fusion did not occur by displaying different left and right images. Fifteen university students aged 20–26 years were included. In the alignment and misalignment states, a symptom questionnaire was used to evaluate changes in the symptoms of participants after viewing a short movie using the VR device. We found that the obtained results in the eye strain category were statistically improved in the aligned state compared with those in the misaligned state. However, there were no significant differences in the general discomfort, nausea, focusing difficulty, or headache categories. Consequently, we confirmed that the alignment of the VR device using the proposed method can reduce eye fatigue when viewing VR content.

Exploring the Impact of Motion Parameter Variations in Virtual Reality Content on Visually Induced Motion Sickness: An Electroencephalography Signal Analysis Approach

Exploring the Impact of Motion Parameter Variations in Virtual Reality Content on Visually Induced Motion Sickness: An Electroencephalography Signal Analysis Approach

BEYOND THE SCREEN: HOW VIRTUAL REALITY SHAPES SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOURS IN ECOTOURISM THROUGH USES AND GRATIFICATIONS THEORY

This study examines the relationships between ascribed responsibility, uses and gratifications, behavioural involvement, and visit intentions among Sicilian tourists using virtual reality (VR) to explore Romanian rural ecotourism destinations. Utilizing the Uses and Gratifications theory, it investigates how VR content's informativeness, playfulness, and social interactivity impact user engagement and behavioural intentions. Findings reveal that higher ascribed responsibility enhances gratifications from VR experiences, which increases behavioural involvement, essential for ecotourism. However, ascribed responsibility alone does not directly influence visit intentions, indicating the role of additional factors. A significant contribution of this research is the identification of a serial mediation model where uses and gratifications and behavioural involvement totally mediate the ascribed responsibility-visit intention relationship. This model highlights the complex interplay between cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses, demonstrating that ascribed responsibility enhances uses and gratifications, leading to increased behavioural involvement and, ultimately, visit intentions. The study extends the Uses and Gratifications theory into VR and ecotourism, emphasizing environmental responsibility in media engagement. Practical implications include strategies for tourism marketers to foster environmental responsibility and for VR developers to create engaging, informative, and interactive experiences. Policymakers can use these insights to promote sustainable tourism through supportive VR content development.

Shaping User Experience in Virtual Reality: A study with special reference to Natyashastra

This article presents a study regarding how Natyashastra’s fundamental principles of storytelling, emotional resonance, and cultural context structure the creation and reception of Virtual Reality (VR) content. Through an attentive examination of a specific VR activity featured in the Prime Minister Museum in Delhi—a helicopter ride showcasing India’s modern infrastructure—the paper explains how Natyashastra’s influence infuses the narrative structure, emotional engagement strategies, and symbolic representations within the VR experience. By exploring the interaction between ancient cultural frameworks and cutting-edge technology, this research underlines the significance of integrating cultural heritage and traditional storytelling techniques into VR design to enhance user experience, emotional connection, and cultural resonance. Through this article, the importance of incorporating cultural frameworks like Natyashastra into VR design to improve user engagement and enrich the virtual experience has been highlighted.

Using in situ research-based design to explore learning module effectiveness and usability in a virtual reality system for workforce training

This study examines the implementation and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) into employee communication training for Texas Department of Transportation employees. The study also explores the impact of iterative, in situ research-based design on VR system usability, and potential relationships between the usability and ergonomics of VR devices, and user receptiveness to VR content. For this work we adapt the definition of in situ to mean a learning activity that takes place in the location or environment where the participants will actually be trained. Following the pandemic, many office-based workers adopted hybrid-remote work formats (Yang, Kim, & Hong, 2023), necessitating updated approaches to employee training and instruction which VR may provide. Further, VR may offer opportunities for private role-play for employee communication practice, as well as an overall more high-fidelity learning opportunity. Findings indicate that VR is an effective and engaging solution for workforce and management communication training, and that hardware configurations influence overall employee enthusiasm for VR-based training.

Virtual Reality in Cancer Care: Enhancing Knowledge and Reducing Anxiety about Chemotherapy among Patients and Caregivers.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has evolved from entertainment to significant applications in healthcare and education. Despite its potential, there is limited research on the role of VR in cancer care. This study investigates VR's ability to simulate the chemotherapy process, aiming to enhance patients' knowledge and mitigate anxiety associated with chemotherapy. Utilizing a two-arm, mixed-methods pre/post-survey design, the study measured changes in patients' anxiety and knowledge before and after exposure to a VR simulation. Participants (n = 267) engaged with VR simulations or interactive 360-degree videos depicting the chemotherapy process. Data analyses revealed a significant median increase in chemotherapy knowledge post-exposure to the VR content (z = 12.511, p < 0.001). Demographic factSors significantly influenced perceptions of VR realism and usefulness (p < 0.05). Additionally, VR exposure was correlated with reduced anxiety levels and improved treatment expectations (p < 0.05). Participants with higher post-understanding chemotherapy scores considered VR a useful tool for managing anxiety about chemotherapy and recommended VR for other medical procedures (p < 0.001). These findings underscore VR technology's potential as a valuable tool in cancer treatment, suggesting it can enhance patient education and reduce anxiety, thereby improving patient outcomes during cancer therapy.

Towards 360 VR Sickness Mitigation: From Virtual Reality Eye-tracking to Visual Communication.

Most 360 virtual reality (VR) contents have been developed without considering that users could be affected by VR sickness. Accordingly, users' viewing safety has been steadily highlighted as a critical problem in the VR market. In this study, we investigate a novel VR sickness mitigation framework based on human visual characteristics for the rendered VR content. First, we build a large-scale 360 VR content database termed VRSP360 (VR Sickness and Presence 360) dedicated to the analysis of VR sickness and thoroughly conduct eye-tracking experiments to measure human perception. In the experiment, we observe that the users' gaze distribution is highly center-biased when they experience excessive VR sickness. From this observation, we design a foveated filtering framework that limits high-frequency textures in the peripheral view to mitigate VR sickness. Particularly, given the human visual system's (HVS) non-uniform resolution with respect to the fovea, we also adopt the foveation-based filtering method using the trade-off between sickness mitigation and presence conservation, which reduces any loss in perceptual quality despite the filtering. We further demonstrate that our framework can effectively compress visual information by applying foveated compression. In addition, we develop two metrics (visual texture index and perceptual information index) to measure the effective preservation of user-perceived information despite the filtration of peripheral vision textures by our proposed mitigation method. Through rigorous subjective evaluation on both original content and its VR-sickness-mitigated version, we demonstrate that the proposed framework successfully mitigates VR sickness with a reduction rate of ∼19% on the proposed dataset.

Carers and professionals' views on using virtual reality in dementia care: A qualitative study.

Virtual reality (VR) interventions provide immersive, interactive computer-simulated virtual environments. There is interest in their use for people with dementia as they may provide stimulating experiences and improve dementia symptoms and quality of life. However, as more insight is needed about carers' and clinical professionals' perspectives to understand how VR may be implemented successfully, we elicited their views on the benefits of, and challenges to, using VR in dementia care. We conducted five qualitative focus groups involving 25 healthcare professionals and informal carers with experience of dementia care. Participants received a demonstration of a VR headset and content and were then questioned following a topic guide asking for views on benefits of, and challenges to, using VR for dementia care. The main findings addressed the benefits of, and concerns about, the impact and implications of VR on wellbeing, ethics, implementation, caregivers and services. Overall, participants had a positive attitude toward VR and made several suggestions for its future use to enable enjoyable and immersive experiences. Examples included suggestions to personalise VR content to accommodate heterogenous profiles and stages of dementia, co-developing protocols to address health risks and side effects and further investigating shared experiences of VR with caregivers. Healthcare professionals and informal carers thought that VR had potential to enhance a holistic and personalised approach to dementia care. They suggested changes which could guide future implementation of VR interventions for dementia patients and their caregivers.

The Design and Usability of Virtual Reality Content Using Eyes for Students with Severe Disabilities

The purposes of this study were to develop the design of virtual reality content using eyes and to investigate the usability of the virtual reality content for nonverbal students with severe disabilities. A 360-degree video in which a narrator introduces scientific activities (momentum, earthquake, gravity, robot dance) and experiences them at Chungnam Science Education Center was produced. Next, the virtual reality content for the video were designed for users to manipulate image buttons with their eyes so that users can select and experience images. Users can select and view images of scientific activity by staring and blinking using the HTC-VIVE Pro Eye, which combines eye tracking technology. The virtual reality content using eyes were designed and developed in accordance with the guidelines for supporting self-determination of students with severe disabilities. In order to investigate the usability of the VR content, 37 special education teachers who had special teacher certificates and had experience in teaching students with severe disabilities answered questions after using the VR content. The teachers evaluated as &amp;quot;neutral&amp;quot; in some usability evaluation categories (e.g., Self-determination, Ease of manipulation, Ease of Understanding, Effectiveness, Efficiency of class preparation, Efficiency in teaching, Appropriateness of content organization). When developing VR contents for students with severe disabilities, developers can design visual images in order for students with severe disabilities to understand easily and establish user interface in users’ eye conditions and operational capabilities. VR contents can be designed in relation to subject areas so that teachers can use them as educational materials.

Mental health providers are inexperienced but interested in telehealth-based virtual reality therapy: survey study.

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that can enhance experiences and outcomes in mental healthcare. However, mental health therapists have been slow to adopt VR into practice. Implementation of telehealth-based VR therapy (tele-VR) could catalyze adoption and innovation in mental healthcare. To explore therapists' perspectives on tele-VR, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of practicing mental health providers in the United States in June-July 2023. We analyzed 176 completed surveys from therapists, of whom 51.14% had no prior experience with VR, only 6.25% had used VR clinically, and 56.82% had neutral impressions of VR for therapy. Despite therapists' general inexperience with VR, therapists indicated a wide variety of tele-VR simulations (e.g., social situations, flying, heights) and features (e.g., personalized spaces, homework, interactivity) would be moderately to extremely useful for their practices. Therapists also requested additional VR simulations and features for their telehealth clients such as behavioral skills training, exposure therapy, gender identity therapy, and psychological assessments in VR. Therapists rated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, the ability to try VR before buying, affordability for therapists, accessibility for clients, and insurance coverage as the five most influential implementation factors for tele-VR. Overall, therapists were generally inexperienced and neutral about VR for telehealth therapy, but were interested in tele-VR for specific applications. These findings provide actionable directions for future research and collaborative development of therapeutic VR content and features.

Exploring the Potential of VR Technology in Education in Indonesia

This paper explores the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) on teacher training and elementary education, highlighting the improvement in teachers' understanding and skills as well as students' learning motivation. The paper contributes to the understanding of the benefits and potential applications of VR in educational settings, particularly focusing on teaching and elementary school learning. A literature review was conducted to identify previous findings and research gaps related to the implementation of VR. The study was conducted through observations, surveys, and interviews. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, and the results were used to develop recommendations regarding VR content design, implementation strategies, and supporting policies. Despite challenges such as cost, accessibility, teacher capacity development, and data security, addressing these challenges could enable VR to become a revolutionary learning tool that can improve the quality of education in Indonesia. With the right approach, including relevant content development and further research, VR can become an effective and engaging learning tool in sports education, taking the learning experience to a more interactive and innovative dimension.

Does Technological Innovativeness Influence Users' Experiences With Virtual Reality Tourism?

ABSTRACTImmersive experiences offered by virtual reality (VR) have the power to impact tourists' decision‐making and on‐site experiences. However, prior research has focused on explaining VR's acceptance by tourists as a function of technological capacity, rather than user characteristics, such as innovativeness. This research intends to fill the existing knowledge gap regarding the role of technological innovativeness on VR experiences. To do so, this study examines whether individuals' technological innovativeness influences their perceptions of a VR tourism experience and, in turn, their intention to recommend the experience. The study provides a VR experience to 405 tourists at a winery. The results reveal that the tourists' technological innovativeness influences their perception of enjoyment, experience quality, and satisfaction. These findings suggest that, when developing or distributing VR content, the technological innovativeness of the audience is important to consider. The findings have theoretical and practical value, with direct implications for tourism professionals and policymakers.

Artistic design of virtual reality content of leather handicraft samples

With the continuous development of science and technology, virtual reality technology has been widely used in various industries. In the leather handicraft industry, virtual reality technology has also begun to be applied to product design and sales. This article takes the artistic design of virtual reality content of leather handicraft samples as the theme, and analyzes, discusses and explores its application from the professional perspective of the industry.

Challenges and Limitations of Implementing Virtual Reality in K-12 Mathematics Education

This study critically examines the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in K-12 mathematics education, focusing on three key areas: the challenges of implementing VR, its impact on student engagement and learning outcomes, and the barriers to its adoption. The review uncovers significant issues such as potential gaps in conceptual understanding, distractions from learning objectives, lack of established standards and evaluation criteria, and the need for extensive teacher training. While VR can enhance learning interactivity, the evidence of its educational impact is varied. The study also highlights the high costs of VR equipment and content development, and the technical complexities of implementation, as major hurdles. The study concludes that while VR has the potential to enrich mathematics education, it is crucial to address these challenges to fully realize its benefits. This includes developing affordable VR solutions, establishing clear evaluation standards, and providing comprehensive training and support for educators to ensure successful integration into the classroom.