Embodiment in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45
Author(s):  
João Martinho Moura ◽  
Né Barros ◽  
Paulo Ferreira-Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Technological Advances

Virtual reality (VR) has been a prominent idea for exploring new worlds beyond the physical, and in recent decades, it has evolved in many aspects. The notion of immersion and the sense of presence in VR gained new definitions as technological advances took place. However, even today, we can question whether the degrees of immersion achieved through this technology are profound and felt. A fundamental aspect is the sense of embodiment in the virtual space. To what extent do we feel embodied in virtual environments? In this publication, the authors present works that challenge and question the embodiment sensation in VR, specifically in the artistic aspect. They present initial reflections about embodiment in virtuality and analyze the technologies adopted in creating interactive artworks prepared for galleries and theater stage, questioning the sensations caused by the visual embodiment in virtual reality under the perspective of both the audience and the performer.

Effect of Virtual Reality Graded Exposure on Heart Rate and Self-Reported Anxiety Levels of Performing Saxophonists

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn K. Orman
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Graded Exposure ◽  
Subjective Measurements ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Exposure Sessions ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure

This study is an examination of the effect of computer-generated virtual reality graded exposure on the physiological and psychological responses of performing musicians. Eight university saxophone majors, five men and three women, participated in twelve 15- to 20-minute weekly practice sessions during which they were immersed in one of four different virtual environments designed to elicit various anxiety levels. Baseline heart rates and subjective measurements were taken prior to immersion and continued throughout the exposure period. In addition, heart rate and subjective measurements were recorded for three live performances given by each subject before beginning the virtual reality exposure and after completion of the sixth and the twelfth exposure sessions. Findings indicated that the virtual environments did elicit a sense of presence and may have provided the means for desensitization. Heart-rate readings and psychological indications of anxiety did not always correspond.

scholarly journals Predictors of Smoking Craving During Virtual Reality Exposure

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-434
Author(s):  
Marta Ferrer-García ◽  
Olaya García-Rodríguez ◽  
Irene Pericot-Valverde ◽  
Jin H. Yoon ◽  
Roberto Secades-Villa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Cue Reactivity ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Virtual Reality Exposure ◽  
Cue Exposure Treatment

Cue exposure treatment (CET) consists of controlled and repeated exposure to drug-related stimuli in order to reduce cue-reactivity. Virtual reality (VR) has proved to be a promising tool for exposition. However, identifying the variables that can modulate the efficacy of this technique is essential for selecting the most appropriate exposure modality. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between several individual variables and self-reported craving in smokers exposed to VR environments. Forty-six smokers were exposed to seven complex virtual environments that reproduce typical situations in which people smoke. Self-reported craving was selected as the criterion variable and three types of variables were selected as the predictor variables: related to nicotine dependence, related to anxiety and impulsivity, and related to the sense of presence in the virtual environments. Sense of presence was the only predictor of self-reported craving in all the experimental virtual environments. Nicotine dependence variables added predictive power to the model only in the virtual breakfast at home. No relation was found between anxiety or impulsivity and self-reported craving. Virtual reality technology can be very helpful for improving CET for substance use disorders. However, the use of virtual environments would make sense only insofar as the sense of presence was high. Otherwise, the effectiveness of exposure might be affected.

scholarly journals The Sense of Presence through the Humanization Created by Virtual Environments

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donga ◽  
Marques ◽  
Pereira ◽  
Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Older People ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Strong Sense ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
School Events

This work focus on the study of solutions that using video 360 and virtual reality that allow children’s and older people that are away of their family environments for various reasons to be able to feel they are participating at family or school events. The solutions proposed should deliver a strong sense of presence to the users and the interface must be friendly. The validation will be made by user observation and inquiries.

Egocentric Distance Perception: A Comparative Study Investigating Differences Between Real and Virtual Environments

Perception ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 940-967
Author(s):  
Ilja T. Feldstein ◽  
Felix M. Kölsch ◽  
Robert Konrad
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Distance Perception ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Egocentric Distance ◽  
The Real ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Depth Analysis

Virtual reality systems are a popular tool in behavioral sciences. The participants’ behavior is, however, a response to cognitively processed stimuli. Consequently, researchers must ensure that virtually perceived stimuli resemble those present in the real world to ensure the ecological validity of collected findings. Our article provides a literature review relating to distance perception in virtual reality. Furthermore, we present a new study that compares verbal distance estimates within real and virtual environments. The virtual space—a replica of a real outdoor area—was displayed using a state-of-the-art head-mounted display. Investigated distances ranged from 8 to 13 m. Overall, the results show no significant difference between egocentric distance estimates in real and virtual environments. However, a more in-depth analysis suggests that the order in which participants were exposed to the two environments may affect the outcome. Furthermore, the study suggests that a rising experience of immersion leads to an alignment of the estimated virtual distances with the real ones. The results also show that the discrepancy between estimates of real and virtual distances increases with the incongruity between virtual and actual eye heights, demonstrating the importance of an accurately set virtual eye height.

Evaluating Industrial Products in an Innovative Visual-Olfactory Environment

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Carulli ◽  
Monica Bordegoni ◽  
Umberto Cugini
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Virtual Prototypes ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Olfactory Display

The sense of smell has a great importance in our daily life. In recent years, smells have been used for marketing purposes with the aim of improving the person’s mood and of communicating information about products as household cleaners and food. However, the scent design discipline can be also applied to any kind of products to communicate their features to customers. In the area of Virtual Reality several researches have focused on integrating smells in virtual environments. The research questions addressed in this work concern whether Virtual Prototypes, including the sense of smell, can be used for evaluating products as effectively as studies performed in real environments, and also whether smells can contribute to increase the users’ sense of presence in the virtual environment. For this purpose, a Virtual Reality experimental framework including a prototype of a wearable olfactory display has been set up, and experimental tests have been performed.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of Sense of Presence of Virtual Reality and Immersive Environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max M. North ◽  
Sarah M. North
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Head Tracking ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Environment Simulation ◽  
Immersive Environment ◽  
Tracking Device

The study of sense of presence experienced in virtual reality environments has become an important area of research. The continued advancement of immersive technology offers more opportunities to examine how a subject becomes immersed in and interacts with a variety of virtual environments. The primary purpose of this research is to study the sense of presence while interacting with a traditional Virtual Reality Environment (Helmet-based system with a Head-tracking device) and compare it with a virtual reality environment using an Immersive Environment (Spherical-based Visualization environment). Two empirical experiments were investigated in this study, each consisting of thirty-five subjects. A virtual airplane scenario was created and simulated for the participants of both environments. Participants were given several questionnaires after completing the simulation. This study mainly focused on question 9 and 10 of that survey, which dealt with how much the participant felt present in the virtual environment, and if the presence of the real world could still be experienced while in the virtual environment. We found that the subjects felt more involved with the virtual environment while using the Immersive Environment simulation versus using the traditional helmet-based Virtual Reality Environment. There was a statistically significant difference in questions 9 and 10 between the Immersive Environment and traditional Virtual Reality Environment when those questions are considered in isolation. However there was not a significant difference in the total sense of presence between the two environments after analyzing the questions together. The primary differences between the questions were analyzed using the overall mean and the standard deviation. The Immersive Environment has a smaller deviation than the traditional Virtual Reality Environment, implying that the sense of presence response is more concentrated. However, the overall results demonstrate that both environments are almost equally effective, with the Immersive Environment having several slight advantages.

User Experience of Public Speaking Practice in Virtual Reality

2020 ◽  
pp. 235-249
Author(s):  
Alice Gruber ◽  
Regina Kaplan-Rakowski
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Nonverbal Behavior ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Public Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Sense Of Presence

This study investigated how the sense of presence and the plausibility illusion of high-immersion virtual reality (VR) impacted students' public speaking anxiety when presenting in a foreign language. In the study, the students gave eight presentations in a VR classroom while using a high-immersion VR headset. The students' virtual audience resembled classmates who were programmed to show nonverbal behavior, such as gestures, mimicry, and body motion. Analysis of subsequent individual semi-structured interviews with the students showed that they experienced a sense of presence and plausibility illusion about the virtual audience and the virtual space. The participants also saw VR as an effective tool for practicing public speaking and reducing any attendant anxiety.

Evaluating Industrial Products in an Innovative Visual-Olfactory Environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Bordegoni ◽  
Marina Carulli
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Virtual Prototypes ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Olfactory Display

The sense of smell has a great importance in our daily life. Recently, smells have been used for marketing purposes for improving the people's mood and for communicating information about products as household cleaners and food. However, the scent design discipline can be used for creating a “scent identity” of these products not traditionally associated to a specific smell, in order to communicate their features to customers. In the area of virtual reality (VR), several researches concerned the integration of smells in virtual environments. The research questions addressed in this paper concern if virtual prototypes (VP), including smell simulation, can be used for evaluating products as effectively as studies performed in real environments, and also if smells can enhance the users' sense of presence in virtual environments. For this purpose, a VR experimental framework including a prototype of a wearable olfactory display (wOD) has been set up, and experimental tests have been carried out.

CITYCLUSTER “From the Renaissance to the Megabyte Networking Age”: A Virtual Reality and High-Speed Networking Project

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Fischnaller ◽  
Alex Hill
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Content Management ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Collaborative Networking ◽  
Networking Tool ◽  
Access Grid

This paper presents the CITYCLUSTER project, a virtual-reality networking matrix, in a high-tech framework with original technological features, navigation, interactivity, graphic, and content style, in which multiple environments, ambiences, and cities, both real and imagined, can be hosted, coexist, and be interrelated within themselves through a common virtual territory. It can be interconnected by high-speed network, enabling remote participants to access, interact, and collaborate in shared environments and work together in a common virtual space over distance in real time. The framework can be expanded and modified in accordance with the digital environment to be incorporated. Meta-Net-Page, a virtual-reality collaborative networking tool, was designed and implemented ad hoc for CITYCLUSTER. “From the Renaissance to the Megabyte Networking Age” is the first CITY-CLUSTER virtual-reality networked application, which offers visitors a thrilling interactive journey, from the Renaissance to the Super Broadband Networking and Electronic Age. Florence represents the “Renaissance Age”, Chicago the “Gigabits Networking Age.” Each virtual city is inhabited by a group of avatars: David, Venus, and Machiavelli in Florence, and Mega, Giga, and Picasso in Chicago. The implementation of CITYCLUSTER has given rise to a range of technological challenges, which in turn have revealed innovative aspects and salient features relative to content management, the development of juxtaposed virtual environments, networking interactive techniques, avatar design, architecture, and virtual effects. A series of special features and enhancements have been added to the software Ygdrasil, to satisfy content and quality levels of interactivity. In consequence, the Ygdrasil system was further refined as software tools that aid the rapid and intuitive development of interactive virtual environments for artists and other nontechnical users. The CITYCLUSTER project is primarily designed to run in the CAVE and on the AGAVE (Access Grid Augmented Virtual Environment). It can run either locally or through remote networking in both SGIs and the Linux platform.

scholarly journals Listening, Corporeality, Place and Presence

2010 ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
Susan Turner
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Film Studies ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Being There

This chapter considers the role of sound, and more specifically, listening, in creating a sense of presence (of “being there”) in “places” recreated by virtual reality technologies. We first briefly review the treatment of sound in place and presence research. Here we give particular attention to the role of sound in inducing a sense of presence in virtual environments that immerse their users in representations of particular places. We then consider the phenomenology of listening, the nature of different types of listening, and their application: listening is active, directed, intentional hearing, and is not merely egocentric, it is body-centric. A classification of modes of listening that draws on work in film studies, virtual reality, and audiology is then proposed as a means of supporting the design of place-centric virtual environments in providing an effective aural experience. Finally, we apply this to a case study of listening in real and simulated soundscapes, and suggest directions for further applications of this work

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