Virtually There: A Longitudinal Study of Presence in Virtual Reality
Project Lead: Matthew Coxon
Student as Researcher: Sasha Storie-Pugh
This project concerned itself with the feeling of being ‘in’ a simulation when using Virtual Reality (VR, an example being the Oculus Rift) headsets. Within the VR industry, it is believed that this feeling develops over time as you gain experience in using the headsets. This project group tested this idea by asking participants to spend time in VR on a weekly basis and report their experience after each session, focusing on the difference between sessions.
Participants reported the experience of “being there” in addition to other measures related to this feeling. Interestingly, there was no evidence to support the VR industry claim and that the experience alone did not seem to lead to the development of this being of being ‘in’ a Virtual Reality.