scholarly journals The Untapped Potential of Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation of Balance and Gait in Neurological Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. Keshner ◽  
Anouk Lamontagne
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Dynamic Systems Theory ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Relative Weighting

Dynamic systems theory transformed our understanding of motor control by recognizing the continual interaction between the organism and the environment. Movement could no longer be visualized simply as a response to a pattern of stimuli or as a demonstration of prior intent; movement is context dependent and is continuously reshaped by the ongoing dynamics of the world around us. Virtual reality is one methodological variable that allows us to control and manipulate that environmental context. A large body of literature exists to support the impact of visual flow, visual conditions, and visual perception on the planning and execution of movement. In rehabilitative practice, however, this technology has been employed mostly as a tool for motivation and enjoyment of physical exercise. The opportunity to modulate motor behavior through the parameters of the virtual world is often ignored in practice. In this article we present the results of experiments from our laboratories and from others demonstrating that presenting particular characteristics of the virtual world through different sensory modalities will modify balance and locomotor behavior. We will discuss how movement in the virtual world opens a window into the motor planning processes and informs us about the relative weighting of visual and somatosensory signals. Finally, we discuss how these findings should influence future treatment design.

scholarly journals The impact of the Mobile Legend game in creating virtual reality

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Khefti Al Mawalia
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Online Games ◽  
Multiple Identities ◽  
Online Game ◽  
Network Access ◽  
The Social ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Online games have been very popular nowadays, more than games played by children and teenagers 30 years ago. This study aims to explore technological developments that people are interested in, namely the phenomenon of the emergence of the online game Mobile Legend. Mobile Legend has succeeded in making Indonesians interested because of its avatar, message feature, and buying and selling of online characters in one application. The evolution of online games from PC to Smartphone makes it easier for gamers to play games anywhere and anytime. Not infrequently, they can spend up to 6 hours a day looking for internet network access. Researchers use determinism theory to answer this phenomenon. The method in this study uses a qualitative type with a virtual ethnographic method. In addition, this research collects data on using virtual tracing to record and documenting virtual activities, and interviews with seven informants of Mobile Legends' players. This research shows that when a person plays games, he can become more apathetic and minimize interaction and communication with the social environment around him. Technology like Mobile Legend has eroded the socio-cultural side and communication sensitivity of an individual in society. All users also become more active and narcissistic in creating multiple identities that exist in the virtual world. So this research shows that online games in creating virtual reality have both positive and negative impacts on the players.

scholarly journals Reaching articular limits can negatively impact embodiment in virtual reality.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thibault Porssut ◽  
Olaf Blanke ◽  
Bruno Herbelin ◽  
Ronan Boulic
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Motor Learning ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Proprioceptive Feedback ◽  
Reaching Movement ◽  
3D Representation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Full Body

Providing Virtual Reality(VR) users with a 3D representation of their body complements the experience of immersion and presence in the virtual world with the experience of being physically located and more personally involved. A full-body avatar representation is known to induce a Sense of Embodiment (SoE) for this virtual body, which is associated with improvements in task performance, motivation and motor learning. Recent experimental research on embodiment provides useful guidelines, indicating the extent of discrepancy tolerated by users and, conversely, the limits and disruptive events that lead to a break in embodiment (BiE). Based on previous works on the limit of agency under movement distortion, this paper describes, studies and analyses the impact of a very common yet overlooked embodiment limitation linked to articular limits when performing a reaching movement. We demonstrate that perceiving the articular limit when fully extending the arm provides users with an additional internal proprioceptive feedback which, if not matched in the avatar's movement, leads to the disruptive realization of an incorrect posture mapping. This study complements previous works on self-contact and visuo-haptic conflicts and emphasizes the risk of disrupting the SoE when distorting users’ movements or using a poorly-calibrated avatar.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in the Motivational Processes of Learners

1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. North
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Control Level ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

This brief article reports on the use of virtual reality and its effectiveness on improving and maintaining learners' intrinsic motivation or interest. Research suggests that interest contributes to learning. Therefore a study of the impact of interests is essential to an understanding of intrinsic motivation. Since the virtual environment provides a sense of presence, it may be possible to create scenarios to stimulate the learners' curiosity and interest. Eighteen students, 11 males and 7 females, between 21 and 32 years old, served as subjects for the study. The experiment consisted of the physical world environment using wooden blocks, and the virtual world using virtual blocks. Both worlds used color and shape as variables. The two variables consisted of three shapes (sphere, pyramid, and cube), and three colors (red, green, and blue). In both worlds, the wooden blocks and virtual blocks had to be manipulated and arranged in nine different patterns. The first experiment started with a two-block pattern. At each step the difficulty was increased by increasing the number of blocks. The subject's score was based on a ten-point scale instrument administered at the end of each experiment. The scores ranged from very weak to very strong. The results were used to identify a significant difference between the subjects' performance in the virtual world and in physical world with respect to curiosity, interest, and sense of control. The interest level comparison indicated that for all subjects scores in the virtual world were always higher than the scores in the physical world. The sense of control level comparison indicated that in the beginning scores in the virtualworld were not always higher than the scores in the physical world. However, after orientation to navigation through the virtual environment, the mean score gradually rose. This research demonstrates that the virtual world is more useful than the physical world (with respect of color and shape) in increasing the memory span of the learner.

scholarly journals Immersion analysis during gameplay in VR and on a PC

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 210-216
Author(s):  
Karol Moniuszko ◽  
Tomasz Szymczyk
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Pulse Rate ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Test Stand ◽  
Traditional Process ◽  
The Impact

This article concerns the study of immersion and human behavior while in a virtual reality (VR) world. It was compared with the behavior of participants during the traditional process of watching the image displayed on a LCD monitor. The study was conducted on the original test stand and the following vital signs were measured: pulse rate and stress. Additional data about the participants were collected by conducting a questionnaire concerning, among others, feelings and well-being during the game. The obtained results clearly show that VR gameplay provides much more emotions to the participants. It also makes them able to forget that they are in a virtual world regardless of whether they have used a VR generating device before or not. These results will determine the impact of immersion on gameplay appeal and player engagement.

scholarly journals THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE: SOCIAL VIRTUAL REALITY AS A REMINISCENCE TOOL

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S306-S306
Author(s):  
Steven J Baker ◽  
Jenny Waycott ◽  
Jeni Warburton ◽  
Frances Batchelor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
User Study ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Large Body ◽  
School Experiences ◽  
The Social ◽  
Single User

Abstract A large body of research demonstrates the positive impact that reminiscence activities can have on older adult wellbeing. Within this space, researchers have begun to explore how virtual reality (VR) technology might be used as a reminiscence tool. The immersive characteristics of VR could aid reminiscence by giving the sense of being fully present in a virtual environment that evokes the time being explored in the reminiscence session. However, to date, research into the use of VR as a reminiscence tool has overwhelmingly focussed on static environments that can only be viewed by a single user. This paper reports on a first-of-its-kind research project that used social VR (multiple users co-present in a single virtual environment), and 3D representations of personal artifacts (such as, photographs and recorded anecdotes), to allow a group of older adults to reminisce about their school experiences. Sixteen older adults aged 70-81 participated in a four-month user study, meeting in groups with a facilitator in a social virtual world called the Highway of Life. Results demonstrate how the social experience, tailored environment, and personal artifacts that were features of the social VR environment allowed the older adults to collaboratively reminisce about their school days. We conclude by considering the benefits and challenges associated with using social VR as a reminiscence tool with older adults.

The Impact of Visual Feedback Type on the Mastery of Visuo-Motor Transformations

2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Sülzenbrück
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Visual Feedback ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Visual Input ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Feedback Type ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
The Impact

For the effective use of modern tools, the inherent visuo-motor transformation needs to be mastered. The successful adjustment to and learning of these transformations crucially depends on practice conditions, particularly on the type of visual feedback during practice. Here, a review about empirical research exploring the influence of continuous and terminal visual feedback during practice on the mastery of visuo-motor transformations is provided. Two studies investigating the impact of the type of visual feedback on either direction-dependent visuo-motor gains or the complex visuo-motor transformation of a virtual two-sided lever are presented in more detail. The findings of these studies indicate that the continuous availability of visual feedback supports performance when closed-loop control is possible, but impairs performance when visual input is no longer available. Different approaches to explain these performance differences due to the type of visual feedback during practice are considered. For example, these differences could reflect a process of re-optimization of motor planning in a novel environment or represent effects of the specificity of practice. Furthermore, differences in the allocation of attention during movements with terminal and continuous visual feedback could account for the observed differences.

scholarly journals Back to reality: transition techniques from short HMD-based virtual experiences to the physical world

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Horst ◽  
Ramtin Naraghi-Taghi-Off ◽  
Linda Rau ◽  
Ralf Dörner
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
User Study ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Direct Communication ◽  
Common Presentation ◽  
Presentation Media ◽  
Virtual Experiences ◽  
Short Times

AbstractEvery Virtual Reality (VR) experience has to end at some point. While there already exist concepts to design transitions for users to enter a virtual world, their return from the physical world should be considered, as well, as it is a part of the overall VR experience. We call the latter outro-transitions. In contrast to offboarding of VR experiences, that takes place after taking off VR hardware (e.g., HMDs), outro-transitions are still part of the immersive experience. Such transitions occur more frequently when VR is experienced periodically and for only short times. One example where transition techniques are necessary is in an auditorium where the audience has individual VR headsets available, for example, in a presentation using PowerPoint slides together with brief VR experiences sprinkled between the slides. The audience must put on and take off HMDs frequently every time they switch from common presentation media to VR and back. In a such a one-to-many VR scenario, it is challenging for presenters to explore the process of multiple people coming back from the virtual to the physical world at once. Direct communication may be constrained while VR users are wearing an HMD. Presenters need a tool to indicate them to stop the VR session and switch back to the slide presentation. Virtual visual cues can help presenters or other external entities (e.g., automated/scripted events) to request VR users to end a VR session. Such transitions become part of the overall experience of the audience and thus must be considered. This paper explores visual cues as outro-transitions from a virtual world back to the physical world and their utility to enable presenters to request VR users to end a VR session. We propose and investigate eight transition techniques. We focus on their usage in short consecutive VR experiences and include both established and novel techniques. The transition techniques are evaluated within a user study to draw conclusions on the effects of outro-transitions on the overall experience and presence of participants. We also take into account how long an outro-transition may take and how comfortable our participants perceived the proposed techniques. The study points out that they preferred non-interactive outro-transitions over interactive ones, except for a transition that allowed VR users to communicate with presenters. Furthermore, we explore the presenter-VR user relation within a presentation scenario that uses short VR experiences. The study indicates involving presenters that can stop a VR session was not only negligible but preferred by our participants.

scholarly journals Gamification and Hazard Communication in Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4663
Author(s):  
Janaina Cavalcanti ◽  
Victor Valls ◽  
Manuel Contero ◽  
David Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Hazard Communication ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Compliance Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

An effective warning attracts attention, elicits knowledge, and enables compliance behavior. Game mechanics, which are directly linked to human desires, stand out as training, evaluation, and improvement tools. Immersive virtual reality (VR) facilitates training without risk to participants, evaluates the impact of an incorrect action/decision, and creates a smart training environment. The present study analyzes the user experience in a gamified virtual environment of risks using the HTC Vive head-mounted display. The game was developed in the Unreal game engine and consisted of a walk-through maze composed of evident dangers and different signaling variables while user action data were recorded. To demonstrate which aspects provide better interaction, experience, perception and memory, three different warning configurations (dynamic, static and smart) and two different levels of danger (low and high) were presented. To properly assess the impact of the experience, we conducted a survey about personality and knowledge before and after using the game. We proceeded with the qualitative approach by using questions in a bipolar laddering assessment that was compared with the recorded data during the game. The findings indicate that when users are engaged in VR, they tend to test the consequences of their actions rather than maintaining safety. The results also reveal that textual signal variables are not accessed when users are faced with the stress factor of time. Progress is needed in implementing new technologies for warnings and advance notifications to improve the evaluation of human behavior in virtual environments of high-risk surroundings.

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