Virtual Reality Tour Research Articles

Assessment of Socio-, Ecological and Economic Consequences of the Virtual Reality Eco-Tours Advancing

According to many experts, humanity is on the verge of transformational changes, which are characterized not only by changes in the way of management, but also by changes in the philosophy of human existence. This situation is especially noticeable during crises on a global scale. One such demonstration was the global socio-economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It can already be argued that some areas of the information technology industry are experiencing an extremely rapid pace of development, including virtual reality technology. This is especially true against the background of information that one of the negative consequences of the pandemic is an increase in cases of psychological tension in society as a whole and in individuals due to limited physical movement of people. Therefore, the aim of this article was to study the prospects of implementing virtual reality technologies in the tourism business environment based on the identification and justification of possible positive and negative socio-environmental and economic results due to the development of this type of business at the regional level. The idea is to use virtual reality technologies to create a commercial product - "green" tourist tours in Sumy region (Ukraine), the essence of which is to enable tourists from anywhere in the world to virtually visit certain natural and landscape areas of Sumy region. The emphasis is not only on visiting historical architectural monuments, museums, but also on using the recreational potential of natural objects. For example, kayaking on the river Psel, hiking in Spadschansky forests, fishing on the Blue Lakes in Sumy, hunting animals, picking mushrooms, sports tours: running, skiing in the woods near the village. Turners. Thus, the creation of eco-tours of virtual reality can be considered appropriate, because for both internal and external stakeholders, this type of activity is more positive than negative: for employees, the creative component of labor grows, the preconditions are created to increase wages; for consumers, the risks during the trip are reduced, the associated costs disappear, there are more options and opportunities for development; for the region, this type of activity guarantees environmental friendliness and greater interest due to the virtual reality tour in the area.

Noisemakers! Putting the Analog in Digital Humanities

Noisefest! is an interactive, multisensory experience centered around a small Maine town and rooted in the sounds and noise of its streets. Comprising a Virtual Reality tour, soundwalks and remixes, a 2D laser cut geographical map with Arduino controllers, and a Futuristic noise intoner, one of the objectives of this collaborative, transdisciplinary, and theory-based project is to create concrete opportunities for students to participate in the “real” world and engage with the materiality of noise and its manifestations by interacting with the soundscape through novel, interactive, and multisensory practices. Noisefest! is also an example of how one can creatively and artistically extend the reach of the digital humanities beyond the borders of academia and into the public realm.

Experiencing immersive virtual reality in museums

Virtual Reality (VR) has been regarded as a highly effective technology that enables people to gain enjoyable and immersive information about museum collections. Drawing from the four realms of the experience economy, we assume absorptive experiences influence immersive experiences, overall museum VR tour experience, and intention to visit a museum. The results show that all the hypotheses are supported. Furthermore, we compared and tested the proposed model and its rival model (postulating the direct influence of the four realms of the experience economy on museum VR experience) and found that the proposed model is better than the rival model.

Using virtual reality to promote the university brand: When do telepresence and system immersion matter?

ABSTRACTWhile virtual reality (VR) has been shown to increase a sense of being there (i.e., telepresence) and enhance audience perceptions of the content, few studies have examined the impact of the varying degrees of ‘system immersion’ on persuasion outcomes under different VR viewing conditions. To fill this gap, our research investigates consumer perceptions of a branded VR experience of a university campus tour under different viewing conditions across two studies. In Study 1, we interviewed 17 participants who experienced the VR tour on Oculus Rift CV1. Emerging themes from the data revealed a sense of telepresence, enjoyment, and appreciation for going places not available to participants in real life. Study 2 employed an experimental design where participants viewed the same content using one of the three VR devices that varied in system immersion (smartphone, Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift DK2). Telepresence and its impact on recall and persuasion were measured. Results show that all three viewing conditions had equal capacity to create a sense of telepresence. Perceived telepresence negatively impacted recall of targeted locations in the virtual tour, whereas telepresence positively correlated with intentions to recommend the campus to others.

The Effect of Mirroring Display of Virtual Reality Tour of the Operating Theatre on Preoperative Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A virtual reality (VR) tour of the operating theatre could reduce preoperative anxiety by providing a realistic experience for children. This randomized clinical trial was designed to determine whether parental co-experience of preoperative VR tour through a mirroring display could further reduce preoperative anxiety. Eighty children scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into either the control or mirroring group. Children in the control group watched a 4-min immersive VR video showing the operating theatre and explaining the preoperative process, via a head mounted display. In the mirroring group, parents of children watched the same video through mirroring display concurrently while their child experienced the immersive VR tour. Preoperative anxiety and satisfaction score were measured. Eighty children completed the final analysis (control group = 40 and mirroring group = 40). Preoperative anxiety of children (p = 0.025) and parents (p = 0.009) were lower in the mirroring group compared with the control group. Parents' satisfaction in the mirroring group was significantly higher than those in the control group (p = 0.008). Parental co-experience of the VR tour with children through mirroring the display was effective in reducing preoperative anxiety in both children and parents.

The effect of an immersive virtual reality tour of the operating theater on emergence delirium in children undergoing general anesthesia: A randomized controlled trial.

An immersive virtual reality tour of the operating theater could reduce preoperative anxiety. This study was designed to determine whether a preoperative immersive virtual reality tour demonstrates a reduction in emergence delirium through reducing the preoperative anxiety in children undergoing general anesthesia. Eighty-six children were randomly allocated into either the control or virtual reality group. The control group received conventional education regarding the perioperative process. The virtual reality group watched a 4-minute virtual reality video showing the operating theater and explaining the perioperative process. Incidence and severity of emergence delirium were the main outcomes. Secondary outcomes included preoperative anxiety using modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale and postoperative behavioral disturbance. Eighty children completed the final analysis (control group=39, virtual reality group=41). The incidence (risk ratio [95% CI]: 1.1 [0.5-2.8], P=0.773) and severity of emergence delirium (mean difference [95% CI]: -0.2 [-2.7 to 2.2], P=0.791) were similar in the two groups. After the intervention, children in the virtual reality group had a significantly lower modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety score than those in the control group (mean difference [95% CI]: 9.2 [0.3-18.2], P=0.022). No difference was observed regarding postoperative behavioral disturbance between the two groups at postoperative 1day (mean difference [95% CI]: -0.1 [-0.3 to 0.1], P=0.671) and 14day (mean difference [95% CI]: -0.0 [-0.1 to 0.0], P=0.329). Preoperative immersive virtual reality tour of the operating theater did not reduce the incidence and severity of emergence delirium, although it was effective in alleviating preoperative anxiety in children.

“Some Account of an Extraordinary Traveller”: Using Virtual Tours to Access Remote Heritage Sites of Inuit Cultural Knowledge

The use of panoramic images to transport viewers to remote geographic locations can be traced back to the panorama theatres of nineteenth-century Victorian London. More recently, Google’s World Wonders Project has utilized 360-degree panospheres to capture some of the world’s most famous heritage sites. Using arrows that demarcate a defined path of movement, users can virtually tour these sites by “jumping” from one panosphere to the next. Arvia’juaq National Historic site is located near the community of Arviat. Although the heritage value of the site is highly significant, Arvia’juaq sees few national and international visitors because of its remote location. For a variety of reasons, some local Inuit also find it difficult to regularly visit the site even though it is an important source of cultural identity. In this paper, we explore how panospheres can be used to create interactive virtual tours of heritage sites like Arvia’juaq. Although there are some caveats, we argue that virtual reality (VR) tours are potentially powerful tools for connecting people to heritage sites that might otherwise be inaccessible. This has important implications for raising awareness of polar heritage and its significance to Indigenous people, as well as national and international audiences.

Randomized clinical trial of immersive virtual reality tour of the operating theatre in children before anaesthesia.

A virtual reality (VR) tour of the operating theatre before anaesthesia could provide a realistic experience for children. This study was designed to determine whether a preoperative VR tour could reduce preoperative anxiety in children. Children scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomized into a control or VR group. The control group received conventional information regarding anaesthesia and surgery. The VR group watched a 4-min video showing Pororo, the famous little penguin, visiting the operating theatre and explaining what is in it. The main outcome was preoperative anxiety, assessed using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) before entering the operating theatre. Secondary outcomes included induction compliance checklist (ICC) and procedural behaviour rating scale (PBRS) scores during anaesthesia. A total of 69 children were included in the analysis, 35 in the control group and 34 in the VR group. Demographic data and induction time were similar in the two groups. Children in the VR group had a significantly lower m-YPAS score than those in the control group (median 31·7 (i.q.r. 23·3-37·9) and 51·7 (28·3-63·3) respectively; P < 0·001). During anaesthesia, the VR group had lower ICC and PBRS scores than the control group. This preoperative VR tour of the operating theatre was effective in alleviating preoperative anxiety and increasing compliance during induction of anaesthesia in children undergoing elective surgery. Registration number: UMIN000025232 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr).

Exergaming and Older Adult Cognition: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Dementia cases may reach 100 million by 2050. Interventions are sought to curb or prevent cognitive decline. Exercise yields cognitive benefits, but few older adults exercise. Virtual reality-enhanced exercise or "exergames" may elicit greater participation. To test the following hypotheses: (1) stationary cycling with virtual reality tours ("cybercycle") will enhance executive function and clinical status more than traditional exercise; (2) exercise effort will explain improvement; and (3) brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) will increase. Multi-site cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the impact of 3 months of cybercycling versus traditional exercise, on cognitive function in older adults. Data were collected in 2008-2010; analyses were conducted in 2010-2011. 102 older adults from eight retirement communities enrolled; 79 were randomized and 63 completed. A recumbent stationary ergometer was utilized; virtual reality tours and competitors were enabled on the cybercycle. Executive function (Color Trails Difference, Stroop C, Digits Backward); clinical status (mild cognitive impairment; MCI); exercise effort/fitness; and plasma BDNF. Intent-to-treat analyses, controlling for age, education, and cluster randomization, revealed a significant group X time interaction for composite executive function (p=0.002). Cybercycling yielded a medium effect over traditional exercise (d=0.50). Cybercyclists had a 23% relative risk reduction in clinical progression to MCI. Exercise effort and fitness were comparable, suggesting another underlying mechanism. A significant group X time interaction for BDNF (p=0.05) indicated enhanced neuroplasticity among cybercyclists. Cybercycling older adults achieved better cognitive function than traditional exercisers, for the same effort, suggesting that simultaneous cognitive and physical exercise has greater potential for preventing cognitive decline. This study is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01167400.

Visual Implement of Virtual Reality Tour Based on VRML

In this paper, a visual solution is presented about virtual reality tour of Web3D based on VRML. After analysis of polyline architectural structure related to tour route, a parametric definition of polyline is given, and a visual editor system of polyline is developed. With our experience on the VR project,the automatic generation algorithm is proposed about the VR tour based on VRML. The application shows that the proposed way can efficiently improve the performance quality of the project.

Virtual Harlem [learning environment

The paper discusses Virtual Harlem, a learning environment that lets students experience the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s as a cultural field trip. Virtual Harlem is a collaborative virtual reality (VR) tour of Harlem in which participants can travel back 80 years to see and hear historical figures, speeches, and music from that period.

Experiencing the library in a panorama virtual reality environment

This paper investigates and illustrates the potential of using panorama virtual reality to enhance Web‐based library instruction. It describes a project in Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&amp;M University that emulates a physical tour and renders it into an attention‐getting virtual tour with 360‐degree realistic views. The paper outlines three progressive developments in the use of tour as an instructional medium: the “physical tour”, the “Web virtual tour”, and the “virtual reality tour”. The project illustrates that panorama VR could be a powerful tool to combine the “physical tour” and the “Web‐based virtual tour” into one, making it a more useful medium that allows navigating, viewing, reading, hearing and remote access. The issues of design, hardware, software, and cost are addressed. The discussion also includes an overview of the Internet‐based VR technologies, a literature review of using VR technologies for learning and some considerations on future applications of panorama‐based virtual reality.

Cultural computing: exploiting interactive digital media

The Web site of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow had to respond to a number of imperatives. First and foremost, it was to make the collections available to schools in the most remote areas of Scotland as a complement to their curriculum. It then had to highlight an extremely diverse collection ranging from archaeology to zoology, with side trips including the voyages of Captain Cook and the house of world‐famous architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The solution was found by using a mix of interactive technologies in an innovative and imaginative way. James Devine is head of Education and Digital Media Resources at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. He has spearheaded a wide variety of innovative multimedia projects focused around the Hunterian collections, including an award‐winning Web site, and, with colleagues in the Computing Science Department, has developed new applications for leading‐edge technologies. More recently, he led field expeditions to Knossos in Crete to create Quick Time Virtual Reality tours of the Minoan palace complex on behalf of the British School of Archaeology in Athens and the Greek Ministry of Culture. Ray Welland is head of the Department of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow. His main research interest is in software engineering and, more particularly, in its application to the creation of large, multi‐authored Web sites.

Labyrinth: an essay on the political psychology of change

To receive tenure college and university professors have long been required to write scholarly monographs or articles, engage in serious research, and teach effectively. In recent years, however, the emergence of digital scholarship has revolutionized - and complicated - the picture in unexpected ways as new electronic media have enabled academics to communicate scholarly material in innovative formats such as websites, PowerPoint presentations, CD-ROMs, and virtual reality tours. Despite this growing output of sophisticated digital scholarship, there has been little attempt to set standards, define basic issues and concepts, or integrate electronic scholarship into the tenure debate. This collection of cutting-edge articles marks the first effort to evaluate the place of digital scholarship in the tenure, promotion, and review process. As a primer aimed at scholars, faculty members, and department chairs in the humanities, social sciences, and other fields, as well as deans, provosts, and university administrators, this collection examines the evolution of nontraditional scholarship, analyzes the various formats, and suggests guidelines for assessment on a scholarly level. It also examines the impact of digital scholarship in the classroom and academy and explores new directions for the future. This book will help shape policy in the murky world of tenure review and could become a central text for scholars and administrators everywhere.