How can the Oculus Rift enrich the interactive storytelling experience?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohsin Ali
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Head Tracking ◽  
Testing Session ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Interactive Storytelling ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
The Past

<p>The technology of today, such as the Oculus Rift, can provide immersion in ways that were unachievable in the past. The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that allows the user to see the three-dimensional world without the use of a traditional monitor. Unlike television, computer and mobile screens, a virtual reality headset digitally transports the user into the environment. Functionality such as depth tracking and rotational head tracking provides immersion unlike anything experienced to date.   My interest is to investigate interactive storytelling in combination with the Oculus Rift, to determine if virtual reality headsets can enrich storytelling experiences. This will be achieved by developing an application where interactive storytelling is compatible with the Oculus Rift, and testing that application with participants. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn from the data collected by participants.   Alongside the written thesis, a digital application will be produced in Unreal Engine 4 (Video game engine). The application will be an Oculus Rift driven experience, meaning that users can only experience it through an Oculus Rift. The application will have an interactive plot, which allows the user to influence the storyline. The design will be iterative and will be refined after each user testing session. The application hopes to strengthen the theories and concepts found in the written section of the thesis.</p>

How can the Oculus Rift enrich the interactive storytelling experience?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohsin Ali
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Head Tracking ◽  
Testing Session ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Interactive Storytelling ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
The Past

<p>The technology of today, such as the Oculus Rift, can provide immersion in ways that were unachievable in the past. The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that allows the user to see the three-dimensional world without the use of a traditional monitor. Unlike television, computer and mobile screens, a virtual reality headset digitally transports the user into the environment. Functionality such as depth tracking and rotational head tracking provides immersion unlike anything experienced to date.   My interest is to investigate interactive storytelling in combination with the Oculus Rift, to determine if virtual reality headsets can enrich storytelling experiences. This will be achieved by developing an application where interactive storytelling is compatible with the Oculus Rift, and testing that application with participants. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn from the data collected by participants.   Alongside the written thesis, a digital application will be produced in Unreal Engine 4 (Video game engine). The application will be an Oculus Rift driven experience, meaning that users can only experience it through an Oculus Rift. The application will have an interactive plot, which allows the user to influence the storyline. The design will be iterative and will be refined after each user testing session. The application hopes to strengthen the theories and concepts found in the written section of the thesis.</p>

scholarly journals Landmarks: A solution for spatial navigation and memory experiments in virtual reality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Starrett ◽  
Andrew S. McAvan ◽  
Derek J. Huffman ◽  
Jared D. Stokes ◽  
Colin T. Kyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Programming Languages ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
3D Navigation ◽  
Head Mounted Displays ◽  
Integrated Development Environments ◽  
Video Game Development ◽  
Game Engines

Abstract Research into the behavioral and neural correlates of spatial cognition and navigation has benefited greatly from recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technology. Devices such as head-mounted displays (HMDs) and omnidirectional treadmills provide research participants with access to a more complete range of body-based cues, which facilitate the naturalistic study of learning and memory in three-dimensional (3D) spaces. One limitation to using these technologies for research applications is that they almost ubiquitously require integration with video game development platforms, also known as game engines. While powerful, game engines do not provide an intrinsic framework for experimental design and require at least a working proficiency with the software and any associated programming languages or integrated development environments (IDEs). Here, we present a new asset package, called Landmarks, for designing and building 3D navigation experiments in the Unity game engine. Landmarks combines the ease of building drag-and-drop experiments using no code, with the flexibility of allowing users to modify existing aspects, create new content, and even contribute their work to the open-source repository via GitHub, if they so choose. Landmarks is actively maintained and is supplemented by a wiki with resources for users including links, tutorials, videos, and more. We compare several alternatives to Landmarks for building navigation experiments and 3D experiments more generally, provide an overview of the package and its structure in the context of the Unity game engine, and discuss benefits relating to the ongoing and future development of Landmarks.

scholarly journals A Digital Reconstruction of a Historical Building and Virtual Reintegration of Mural Paintings to Create an Interactive and Immersive Experience in Virtual Reality

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ovidia Soto-Martin ◽  
Alba Fuentes-Porto ◽  
Jorge Martin-Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
Historical Building ◽  
Mural Paintings ◽  
Heritage Site

Nowadays, virtual reality technologies and immersive virtual reality (VR) apps allow people to view, explore, engage with and learn about historic monuments and buildings, historic sites, and even historic scenes. To preserve our cultural heritage for future generations. it is essential that damaged and dilapidated historic artefacts are accurately documented, and that steps are taken to improve user experiences in the areas of virtual visits, science and education. This paper describes an approach to reconstruct and restore historic buildings and mural paintings. The work process uses digital models that are then inserted into an interactive and immersive VR environment. Windows-Mixed Reality is used to visualize the said VR environment. The work method was applied at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), thereby creating a virtual three dimensional (3D) rendering of the architectural structures of the St Augustine Church in La Laguna and its murals. A combination of topography and terrestrial photogrammetry was used to reconstruct its architectural features, and the digital imaging tool DStretch® to recover its murals. The resulting 3D model was then inserted into an immersive and interactive VR environment created using the cross-platform game engine Unity. One of the greatest challenges of this project revolved around recovering the dilapidated and virtually nonexistent mural paintings using DStretch®. However, the final result is an immersive and interactive VR environment containing architectural and artistic information created within the video game engine Unity, which thereby allows the user to explore, observe and interact with a cultural heritage site in real time.

scholarly journals The Height of Reality: Using Virtual Reality Technology to Desensitize Acrophobia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mark Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Psychological Disorders ◽  
Virtual Reality Simulation ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Manageable Level ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Fear Of Heights

<p>Virtual reality (VR) is a new up-and-coming technology on which to watch three dimensional films or play video games. However, the practical uses of virtual reality can spread much further than just media outputs. This research aims to explore one of the practical uses for virtual reality technology. VR has the potential to help patients living with psychological disorders, by reducing the anxiety that they experience to a more manageable level within a safe environment. This dissertation addresses the use of a virtual reality simulation to reduce the anxiety experienced by patients effected by acrophobia, known as the fear of heights. The preliminary research includes several in-depth interviews with psychologists and clinicians, as well as phobic patients to better understand the processes of gradual exposure rehabilitation. This method also determines how a virtual reality simulation may be effectively designed. The primary aim of this research is to build a VR simulation which will produce a conducive result in the anxiety levels of the participants’ mental health, within a familiar and comfortable environment. User-testing the simulation will further refine the program’s effectiveness. The outcome will be a program supported by existing virtual reality treatments for psychological disorders that ultimately reduces the anxiety experienced by participants.</p>

Gaming on the Rift: How Virtual Reality Affects Game User Satisfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 2072-2076 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Shelstad ◽  
Dustin C. Smith ◽  
Barbara S. Chaparro
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Video Game ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
Unique Experience ◽  
Computer Monitors

Virtual reality (VR) headsets like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR can provide a unique experience different from traditional computer monitors. Research demonstrates some support for VR resulting in more immersive gaming than traditional games using a computer or TV monitor. This study investigates how VR technology impacts game user satisfaction. Participants played the same strategy video game using the Oculus Rift, a VR headset, and a computer monitor. Game user satisfaction was measured by the psychometrically validated Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS) which consists of nine constructs. Results from this study showed that VR enhanced overall satisfaction, enjoyment, engrossment, creativity, sound, and graphics quality.

scholarly journals The Height of Reality: Using Virtual Reality Technology to Desensitize Acrophobia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mark Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Psychological Disorders ◽  
Virtual Reality Simulation ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Manageable Level ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Fear Of Heights

<p>Virtual reality (VR) is a new up-and-coming technology on which to watch three dimensional films or play video games. However, the practical uses of virtual reality can spread much further than just media outputs. This research aims to explore one of the practical uses for virtual reality technology. VR has the potential to help patients living with psychological disorders, by reducing the anxiety that they experience to a more manageable level within a safe environment. This dissertation addresses the use of a virtual reality simulation to reduce the anxiety experienced by patients effected by acrophobia, known as the fear of heights. The preliminary research includes several in-depth interviews with psychologists and clinicians, as well as phobic patients to better understand the processes of gradual exposure rehabilitation. This method also determines how a virtual reality simulation may be effectively designed. The primary aim of this research is to build a VR simulation which will produce a conducive result in the anxiety levels of the participants’ mental health, within a familiar and comfortable environment. User-testing the simulation will further refine the program’s effectiveness. The outcome will be a program supported by existing virtual reality treatments for psychological disorders that ultimately reduces the anxiety experienced by participants.</p>

scholarly journals Using the Roblox Video Game Engine for Creating Virtual tours and Learning about the Sculptural Heritage

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (20) ◽  
pp. 268
Author(s):  
Cecile Meier ◽  
Jose Luis Saorín ◽  
Alejandro Bonnet de León ◽  
Alberto Guerrero Cobos
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
School Students ◽  
Final Questionnaire ◽  
Game Engines ◽  
The Creation

This paper describes an experience to incorporate the realization of virtual routes about the sculptural heritage of a city in the classroom by developing a simulation of the urban environment using a video game engine. Video game engines not only allow the creation of video games but also the creation and navigation of in-teractive three-dimensional worlds. For this research, Roblox Studio has been used, a simple and intuitive program in which no previous programming skills are required. During the 2018/2019 academic year, a pilot experience was carried out with 53 secondary school students who were given the task of designing a virtual environment in which they had to include 3D models of the sculptural her-itage of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Before starting the experience, the par-ticipants answered a questionnaire to obtain a previous idea of the students' knowledge about the creation of video games. Once the activity was finished and in order to evaluate the result of the activity, the participants answered a final questionnaire. The students emphasized that after the activity they are more aware of the sculptural heritage of Santa Cruz and that they consider themselves capable of creating their own interactive worlds with Roblox.

scholarly journals A Visual Programming Tool to Design Mixed and Virtual Reality Interactions

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
Guillaume Loup ◽  
Sébastien George ◽  
Iza Marfisi ◽  
Audrey Serna
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Visual Programming ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
The Past ◽  
Programming Tool ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Software And Hardware ◽  
New Algorithms ◽  
Specific Expertise

Mixed and Virtual Reality (MVR) devices are now more accessible. However, developing MVR applications is still complex for the majority of developers, because it requires specific expertise. For the past few years, several packaged solutions offered to assist developers who are non-MVR experts. These solutions rarely offer full freedom to create specific interactions adapted to the context. We therefore propose a new MVR tool named MIREDGE (MIxed and virtual REality Development tool for Game Engine). Its interface allows visual programming of MVR interactions. This solution aims at allowing developers to capitalize, re- use, share and associate interaction algorithms. It also takes into account software and hardware compatibility in order to compose new algorithms. The specific architecture of MIREDGE provides opportunities for MVR and non-MVR developers to collaborate to meet a common need: writing efficient MVR interaction algorithms. MIREDGE Editor was evaluated by 31 MVR and non-MVR developers. Results shows that MIREDGE Editor seems effective and efficient particularly for non-MVR developers.

Avatars

2010 ◽  
pp. 33-48
Author(s):  
Angela Adrian
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Dimensional Image ◽  
On Line ◽  
Hindu Deity

Virtual worlds may be the future of e-commerce. The game designers who fashioned these flourishing virtual worlds have invented a much more appealing way to use the internet: through an avatar. This usage of the term was coined in 1985 by Chip Morningstar, a user of the first avatar environment created by LucasFilm called Habitat. Habitat lacked many of the features we have in today’s games such as quests and puzzles. It was more similar to a social MUD in which the interactivity between avatars was the ultimate goal. According to Encarta: “Avatar [Sanskrit]: 1. incarnation of Hindu deity: an incarnation of a Hindu deity in human or animal form, especially one of the incarnations of Vishnu such as Rama and Krishna. 2. embodiment of something: somebody who embodies, personifies, or is the manifestation of an idea or concept. 3. image of person in virtual reality: a movable three-dimensional image that can be used to represent somebody in cyberspace, for example, an Internet user.” Unlike previous video game alter-egos, these avatars can be completely customized and are designed mainly for social interaction (Lastowka and Hunter, 2004). The average player dedicates hundreds of hours (and hundreds of dollars, in some cases). To cultivate his avatar. A survey suggested that approximately 20 percent of Norrath’s citizens deem it their place of residence; they just commute to Earth and back. To a large and growing number of people, virtual worlds are an important source of material and emotional well-being. (Yee). Ordinary people, who are bored and frustrated by regular web commerce, participate vigorously and passionately in avatar-based on-line markets.

Engagement and Competence in VR and non-VR Environments

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 2082-2085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Pierce ◽  
Philip A. Young ◽  
Shawn M. Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Motion Sickness ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
The Past ◽  
Demographic Survey ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Difference ◽  
To Come ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Immersive Technology

There has been a general push within the past five years to commercialize virtual reality (VR) gaming for public use. Devices such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, and Samsung VR on the market have emerged with more to come in the future. With these immersive technologies becoming more accessible, researchers can more easily test the idea of levels of engagement in VR games compared to non-VR games on the console or PC. VR companies market their immersive technology to be more engaging experiences but very little research has been conducted with newer models. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference in engagement when using a VR version or a non-VR version of the game Thumper. The study will have 60 participants of varying expertise who will play Thumper for twenty-three minutes and then will be asked to take a demographic survey, the GUESS measure, and a motion sickness survey. This study is in progress and expects to shed light on the relationships between immersion and virtual reality.

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