Journal Description
Virtual Worlds
Virtual Worlds
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on virtual reality, augmented and mixed reality, published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- Rapid Publication: first decisions in 16 days; acceptance to publication in 5.8 days (median values for MDPI journals in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
- Virtual Worlds is a companion journal of Applied Sciences.
Latest Articles
Exploring Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment Methods for Video Games
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(2), 230-255; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3020012 - 7 Jun 2024
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Maintaining player engagement is pivotal for video game success, yet achieving the optimal difficulty level that adapts to diverse player skills remains a significant challenge. Initial difficulty settings in games often fail to accommodate the evolving abilities of players, necessitating adaptive difficulty mechanisms
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Maintaining player engagement is pivotal for video game success, yet achieving the optimal difficulty level that adapts to diverse player skills remains a significant challenge. Initial difficulty settings in games often fail to accommodate the evolving abilities of players, necessitating adaptive difficulty mechanisms to keep the gaming experience engaging. This study introduces a custom first-person-shooter (FPS) game to explore Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA) techniques, leveraging both performance metrics and emotional responses gathered from physiological sensors. Through a within-subjects experiment involving casual and experienced gamers, we scrutinized the effects of various DDA methods on player performance and self-reported game perceptions. Contrary to expectations, our research did not identify a singular, most effective DDA strategy. Instead, findings suggest a complex landscape where no one approach—be it performance-based, emotion-based, or a hybrid—demonstrably surpasses static difficulty settings in enhancing player engagement or game experience. Noteworthy is the data’s alignment with Flow Theory, suggesting potential for the Emotion DDA technique to foster engagement by matching challenges to player skill levels. However, the overall modest impact of DDA on performance metrics and emotional responses highlights the intricate challenge of designing adaptive difficulty that resonates with both the mechanical and emotional facets of gameplay. Our investigation contributes to the broader dialogue on adaptive game design, emphasizing the need for further research to refine DDA approaches. By advancing our understanding and methodologies, especially in emotion recognition, we aim to develop more sophisticated DDA strategies. These strategies aspire to dynamically align game challenges with individual player states, making games more accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for a wider audience.
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Open AccessArticle
An Augmented Reality Application for Wound Management: Enhancing Nurses’ Autonomy, Competence and Connectedness
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Carina Albrecht-Gansohr, Lara Timm, Sabrina C. Eimler and Stefan Geisler
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(2), 208-229; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3020011 - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
The use of Augmented Reality glasses opens up many possibilities in hospital care, as they facilitate treatments and their documentation. In this paper, we present a prototype for the HoloLens 2 supporting wound care and documentation. It was developed in a participatory process
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The use of Augmented Reality glasses opens up many possibilities in hospital care, as they facilitate treatments and their documentation. In this paper, we present a prototype for the HoloLens 2 supporting wound care and documentation. It was developed in a participatory process with nurses using the positive computing paradigm, with a focus on the improvement of the working conditions of nursing staff. In a qualitative study with 14 participants, the factors of autonomy, competence and connectedness were examined in particular. It was shown that good individual adaptability and flexibility of the system with respect to the work task and personal preferences lead to a high degree of autonomy. The availability of the right information at the right time strengthens the feeling of competence. On the one hand, the connection to patients is increased by the additional information in the glasses, but on the other hand, it is hindered by the unusual appearance of the device and the lack of eye contact. In summary, the potential of Augmented Reality glasses in care was confirmed, and approaches for a well-being-centered system design were identified but, at the same time, a number of future research questions, including the effects on patients, were also identified.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Simulations and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality)
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Open AccessArticle
Tactile Speech Communication: Reception of Words and Two-Way Messages through a Phoneme-Based Display
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Jaehong Jung, Charlotte M. Reed, Juan S. Martinez and Hong Z. Tan
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(2), 184-207; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3020010 - 7 May 2024
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research is the development of a stand-alone tactile device for the communication of speech for persons with profound sensory deficits as well as for applications for persons with intact hearing and vision. Studies were conducted with a phoneme-based
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The long-term goal of this research is the development of a stand-alone tactile device for the communication of speech for persons with profound sensory deficits as well as for applications for persons with intact hearing and vision. Studies were conducted with a phoneme-based tactile display of speech consisting of a 4-by-6 array of tactors worn on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the forearm. Unique tactile signals were assigned to the 39 English phonemes. Study I consisted of training and testing on the identification of 4-phoneme words. Performance on a trained set of 100 words averaged 87% across the three participants and generalized well to a novel set of words (77%). Study II consisted of two-way messaging between two users of TAPS (TActile Phonemic Sleeve) for 13 h over 45 days. The participants conversed with each other by inputting text that was translated into tactile phonemes sent over the device. Messages were identified with an accuracy of 73% correct in conjunction with 82% of the words. Although rates of communication were slow (roughly 1 message per minute), the results obtained with this ecologically valid procedure represent progress toward the goal of a stand-alone tactile device for speech communication.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Haptics and Human–Computer Interaction Systems in Virtual Reality)
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Open AccessArticle
Story Starter: A Tool for Controlling Multiple Virtual Reality Headsets with No Active Internet Connection
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Andy T. Woods, Laryssa Whittaker, Neil Smith, Robert Ispas, Jackson Moore, Roderick D. Morgan and James Bennett
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(2), 171-183; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3020009 - 8 Apr 2024
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Immersive events are becoming increasingly popular, allowing multiple people to experience a range of VR content simultaneously. Onboarders help people do VR experiences in these situations. Controlling VR headsets for others without physically having to put them on first is an important requirement
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Immersive events are becoming increasingly popular, allowing multiple people to experience a range of VR content simultaneously. Onboarders help people do VR experiences in these situations. Controlling VR headsets for others without physically having to put them on first is an important requirement here, as it streamlines the onboarding process and maximizes the number of viewers. Current off-the-shelf solutions require headsets to be connected to a cloud-based app via an active internet connection, which can be problematic in some locations. To address this challenge, we present Story Starter, a solution that enables the control of VR headsets without an active internet connection. Story Starter can start, stop, and install VR experiences, adjust device volume, and display information such as remaining battery life. We developed Story Starter in response to the UK-wide StoryTrails tour in the summer of 2022, which was held across 15 locations and attracted thousands of attendees who experienced a range of immersive content, including six VR experiences. Story Starter helped streamline the onboarding process by allowing onboarders to avoid putting the headset on themselves to complete routine tasks such as selecting and starting experiences, thereby minimizing COVID risks. Another benefit of not needing an active internet connection was that our headsets did not automatically update at inconvenient times, which we have found sometimes to break experiences. Converging evidence suggests that Story Starter was well-received and reliable. However, we also acknowledge some limitations of the solution and discuss several next steps we are considering.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Networked Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
APIs in the Metaverse—A Systematic Evaluation
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Marius Traub and Markus Weinberger
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(2), 157-170; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3020008 - 8 Apr 2024
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One of the most critical challenges for the success of the Metaverse is interoperability amongst its virtual platforms and worlds. In this context, application programming interfaces (APIs) are essential. This study analyzes a sample of 15 Metaverse platforms. In the first step, the
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One of the most critical challenges for the success of the Metaverse is interoperability amongst its virtual platforms and worlds. In this context, application programming interfaces (APIs) are essential. This study analyzes a sample of 15 Metaverse platforms. In the first step, the availability of publicly accessible APIs was examined. For those platforms offering an API, i.e., Decentraland, Second Life, Voxels, Roblox, Axie Infinity, Upland, and VRChat, the available API contents were collected, analyzed, and presented in the paper. The results show that only a few Metaverse platforms offer APIs at all. In addition, the available APIs are very diverse and heterogeneous. Information is somewhat fragmented, requiring access to several APIs to compile a comprehensive data set. Thus, standardized APIs will enable better interoperability and foster a more seamless and immersive user experience in the Metaverse.
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Open AccessArticle
Motion Capture in Mixed-Reality Applications: A Deep Denoising Approach
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André Correia Gonçalves, Rui Jesus and Pedro Mendes Jorge
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 135-156; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010007 - 11 Mar 2024
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Motion capture is a fundamental technique in the development of video games and in film production to animate a virtual character based on the movements of an actor, creating more realistic animations in a short amount of time. One of the ways to
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Motion capture is a fundamental technique in the development of video games and in film production to animate a virtual character based on the movements of an actor, creating more realistic animations in a short amount of time. One of the ways to obtain this movement from an actor is to capture the motion of the player through an optical sensor to interact with the virtual world. However, during movement some parts of the human body can be occluded by others and there can be noise caused by difficulties in sensor capture, reducing the user experience. This work presents a solution to correct the motion capture errors from the Microsoft Kinect sensor or similar through a deep neural network (DNN) trained with a pre-processed dataset of poses offered by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Graphics Lab. A temporal filter is implemented to smooth the movement, given by a set of poses returned by the deep neural network. This system is implemented in Python with the TensorFlow application programming interface (API), which supports the machine learning techniques and the Unity game engine to visualize and interact with the obtained skeletons. The results are evaluated using the mean absolute error (MAE) metric where ground truth is available and with the feedback of 12 participants through a questionnaire for the Kinect data.
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Open AccessArticle
Real-Time Diminished Reality Application Specifying Target Based on 3D Region
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Kaito Kobayashi and Masanobu Takahashi
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 115-134; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010006 - 4 Mar 2024
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Diminished reality (DR) is a technology in which a background image is overwritten on a real object to make it appear as if the object has been removed from real space. This paper presents a real-time DR application that employs deep learning. A
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Diminished reality (DR) is a technology in which a background image is overwritten on a real object to make it appear as if the object has been removed from real space. This paper presents a real-time DR application that employs deep learning. A DR application can remove objects inside a 3D region defined by a user in images captured using a smartphone. By specifying the 3D region containing the target object to be removed, DR can be realized for targets with various shapes and sizes, and the specified target can be removed even if the viewpoint changes. To achieve fast and accurate DR, a suitable network was employed based on the experimental results. Additionally, the loss function during the training process was improved to enhance completion accuracy. Then, the operation of the DR application at 10 fps was verified using a smartphone and a laptop computer.
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Open AccessArticle
Comparing and Contrasting Near-Field, Object Space, and a Novel Hybrid Interaction Technique for Distant Object Manipulation in VR
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Wei-An Hsieh, Hsin-Yi Chien, David Brickler, Sabarish V. Babu and Jung-Hong Chuang
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 94-114; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010005 - 21 Feb 2024
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In this contribution, we propose a hybrid interaction technique that integrates near-field and object-space interaction techniques for manipulating objects at a distance in virtual reality (VR). The objective of the hybrid interaction technique was to seamlessly leverage the strengths of both the near-field
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In this contribution, we propose a hybrid interaction technique that integrates near-field and object-space interaction techniques for manipulating objects at a distance in virtual reality (VR). The objective of the hybrid interaction technique was to seamlessly leverage the strengths of both the near-field and object-space manipulation techniques. We employed bimanual near-field metaphor with scaled replica (BMSR) as our near-field interaction technique, which enabled us to perform multilevel degrees-of-freedom (DoF) separation transformations, such as 1~3DoF translation, 1~3DoF uniform and anchored scaling, 1DoF and 3DoF rotation, and 6DoF simultaneous translation and rotation, with enhanced depth perception and fine motor control provided by near-field manipulation techniques. The object-space interaction technique we utilized was the classic Scaled HOMER, which is known to be effective and appropriate for coarse transformations in distant object manipulation. In a repeated measures within-subjects evaluation, we empirically evaluated the three interaction techniques for their accuracy, efficiency, and economy of movement in pick-and-place, docking, and tunneling tasks in VR. Our findings revealed that the near-field BMSR technique outperformed the object space Scaled HOMER technique in terms of accuracy and economy of movement, but the participants performed more slowly overall with BMSR. Additionally, our results revealed that the participants preferred to use the hybrid interaction technique, as it allowed them to switch and transition seamlessly between the constituent BMSR and Scaled HOMER interaction techniques, depending on the level of accuracy, precision and efficiency required.
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Open AccessArticle
Cybersickness in Virtual Reality: The Role of Individual Differences, Its Effects on Cognitive Functions and Motor Skills, and Intensity Differences during and after Immersion
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Panagiotis Kourtesis, Agapi Papadopoulou and Petros Roussos
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 62-93; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010004 - 2 Feb 2024
Cited by 3
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Background: Given that VR is used in multiple domains, understanding the effects of cybersickness on human cognition and motor skills and the factors contributing to cybersickness is becoming increasing important. This study aimed to explore the predictors of cybersickness and its interplay with
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Background: Given that VR is used in multiple domains, understanding the effects of cybersickness on human cognition and motor skills and the factors contributing to cybersickness is becoming increasing important. This study aimed to explore the predictors of cybersickness and its interplay with cognitive and motor skills. Methods: 30 participants, 20–45 years old, completed the MSSQ and the CSQ-VR, and were immersed in VR. During immersion, they were exposed to a roller coaster ride. Before and after the ride, participants responded to the CSQ-VR and performed VR-based cognitive and psychomotor tasks. After the VR session, participants completed the CSQ-VR again. Results: Motion sickness susceptibility, during adulthood, was the most prominent predictor of cybersickness. Pupil dilation emerged as a significant predictor of cybersickness. Experience with videogaming was a significant predictor of cybersickness and cognitive/motor functions. Cybersickness negatively affected visuospatial working memory and psychomotor skills. Overall the intensity of cybersickness’s nausea and vestibular symptoms significantly decreased after removing the VR headset. Conclusions: In order of importance, motion sickness susceptibility and gaming experience are significant predictors of cybersickness. Pupil dilation appears to be a cybersickness biomarker. Cybersickness affects visuospatial working memory and psychomotor skills. Concerning user experience, cybersickness and its effects on performance should be examined during and not after immersion.
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Open AccessArticle
Speech Intelligibility versus Congruency: User Preferences of the Acoustics of Virtual Reality Game Spaces
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Constantin Popp and Damian T. Murphy
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 40-61; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010003 - 19 Jan 2024
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3D audio spatializers for Virtual Reality (VR) can use the acoustic properties of the surfaces of a visualised game space to calculate a matching reverb. However, this approach could lead to reverbs that impair the tasks performed in such a space, such as
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3D audio spatializers for Virtual Reality (VR) can use the acoustic properties of the surfaces of a visualised game space to calculate a matching reverb. However, this approach could lead to reverbs that impair the tasks performed in such a space, such as listening to speech-based audio. Sound designers would then have to alter the room’s acoustic properties independently of its visualisation to improve speech intelligibility, causing audio-visual incongruency. As user expectation of simulated room acoustics regarding speech intelligibility in VR has not been studied, this study asked participants to rate the congruency of reverbs and their visualisations in 6-DoF VR while listening to speech-based audio. The participants compared unaltered, matching reverbs with sound-designed, mismatching reverbs. The latter feature improved D50s and reduced RT60s at the cost of lower audio-visual congruency. Results suggest participants preferred improved reverbs only when the unaltered reverbs had comparatively low D50s or excessive ringing. Otherwise, too dry or too reverberant reverbs were disliked. The range of expected RT60s depended on the surface visualisation. Differences in timbre between the reverbs may not affect preferences as strongly as shorter RT60s. Therefore, sound designers can intervene and prioritise speech intelligibility over audio-visual congruency in acoustically challenging game spaces.
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Evaluating the Effect of Outfit on Personality Perception in Virtual Characters
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Yanbo Cheng and Yingying Wang
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 21-39; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010002 - 4 Jan 2024
Cited by 2
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Designing virtual characters that are capable of reflecting a sense of personality is a key goal in research and applications in virtual reality and computer graphics. More and more research efforts are dedicated to investigating approaches to construct a diverse, equitable, and inclusive
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Designing virtual characters that are capable of reflecting a sense of personality is a key goal in research and applications in virtual reality and computer graphics. More and more research efforts are dedicated to investigating approaches to construct a diverse, equitable, and inclusive metaverse by infusing expressive personalities and styles into virtual avatars. While most previous work focused on exploring variations in virtual characters’ dynamic behaviors, characters’ visual appearance plays a crucial role in affecting their perceived personalities. This paper presents a series of experiments evaluating the effect of virtual characters’ outfits on their perceived personality. Based on the related psychology research conducted in the real world, we determined a set of outfit factors likely to reflect personality in virtual characters: color, design, and type. As a framework for our study, we used the “Big Five” personality model for evaluating personality traits. To test our hypothesis, we conducted three perceptual experiments to evaluate the outfit parameters’ contributions to the characters’ personality. In our first experiment, we studied the color factor by varying color hue, saturation, and value; in the second experiment, we evaluated the impact of different neckline, waistline, and sleeve designs; and in our third experiment, we examined the personality perception of five outfit types: professional, casual, fashionable, outdoor, and indoor. Significant results offer guidance to avatar designers on how to create virtual characters with specific personality profiles. We further conducted a verification test to extend the application of our findings to animated virtual characters in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) settings. Results confirmed that our findings can be broadly applied to both static and animated virtual characters in VR and AR environments that are commonly used in games, entertainment, and social networking scenarios.
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Open AccessArticle
Design and Evaluation of an Asynchronous VR Exploration System for Architectural Design Discussion Content
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Hsuan-Ming Chang, Ting-Wei Hsu, Ming-Han Tsai, Sabarish V. Babu and Jung-Hong Chuang
Virtual Worlds 2024, 3(1), 1-20; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds3010001 - 27 Dec 2023
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Design discussion is crucial in the architectural design process. To enhance the spatial understanding of 3D space and discussion effectiveness, recently, some systems have been proposed to support design discussion interactively in an immersive virtual environment. The entire design discussion can be archived
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Design discussion is crucial in the architectural design process. To enhance the spatial understanding of 3D space and discussion effectiveness, recently, some systems have been proposed to support design discussion interactively in an immersive virtual environment. The entire design discussion can be archived and potentially become course materials for future learners. In this paper, we propose an asynchronous VR exploration system that aims to help learners explore content effectively and efficiently anywhere and at any time. To improve effectiveness and efficiency, we also propose a summarization-to-detail approach with the application space by which students can observe the visualization of spatial summarization of actions and participants’ dwell time or the temporal distribution of dialogues and then locate the important or interesting region or dialogue for further exploration. To further explore the discussion content, students can call the preview to see the time-lapse animation of the object operation to understand the change in models or playback to view the discussion details. We conducted an exploratory user study with 10 participants to evaluate user experience, user impression, and effectiveness of learning the design discussion course content using our asynchronous VR design discussion content exploration system. The results indicate that the interactive VR exploration system presented can help learners study the design discussion content effectively. Participants also provided some positive feedback and confirmed the usefulness and value of the system presented. Our applications and lessons learned have implications for future asynchronous VR exploration systems, not only for architectural design discussion content, but also for other applications, such as industrial visual inspections and educational visualizations of design discussions.
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Open AccessArticle
Physics-Based Watercraft Simulator in Virtual Reality
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Kelly Ervin, Jonathan Boone, Karl Smink, Gaurav Savant, Keith Martin, Spicer Bak and Shyla Clark
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 422-438; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040024 - 14 Dec 2023
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In this paper, watercraft and ship simulation is summarized, and the way that it can be extended through realistic physics is explored. A hydrodynamic, data-driven, immersive watercraft simulation experience is also introduced, using the Unreal Engine to visualize a Landing Craft Utility (LCU)
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In this paper, watercraft and ship simulation is summarized, and the way that it can be extended through realistic physics is explored. A hydrodynamic, data-driven, immersive watercraft simulation experience is also introduced, using the Unreal Engine to visualize a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) operation and interaction with near-shore waves in virtual reality (VR). The VR application provides navigation scientists with a better understanding of how coastal waves impact landing operations and channel design. FUNWAVE data generated on the supercomputing resources at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) are employed, and using these data, a graphical representation of the domain is created, including the vessel model and a customizable VR bridge to control the vessel within the virtual environment. Several dimension reduction methods are being devised to ensure that the FUNWAVE data can inform the model but keep the application running in real time at an acceptable frame rate for the VR headset. By importing millions of data points output from the FUNWAVE version 3.4 software into Unreal Engine, virtual vessels can be affected by physics-driven data.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Simulations and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality)
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Open AccessReview
360-Degree Virtual Reality Utilising Head-Mounted Devices in Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Education: A Scoping Review
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Maram A. Alammary, Lesley Halliday and Stathis Th. Konstantinidis
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 396-421; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040023 - 7 Dec 2023
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Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is a promising tool for improving the teaching and learning of nursing and midwifery students. However, the preexisting literature does not comprehensively examine scenario development, theoretical underpinnings, duration, and debriefing techniques. The aim of this review was to assess
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Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is a promising tool for improving the teaching and learning of nursing and midwifery students. However, the preexisting literature does not comprehensively examine scenario development, theoretical underpinnings, duration, and debriefing techniques. The aim of this review was to assess the available evidence of how 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) utilising head-mounted devices has been used in undergraduate nursing and midwifery education programmes and to explore the potential pedagogical value based on Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across five databases. All studies published in English between 2007–2022 were included, regardless of design, if the focus was undergraduate nursing and midwifery programmes and utilised fully immersive 360-degree VR scenarios. Out of an initial pool of 1700 articles, 26 were selected for final inclusion. The findings indicated a limited diversity in scenario design, with only one study employing a participatory approach. Within the Kirkpatrick model, the most measurable outcomes were found at level 2. The main drawback observed in interventional studies was the absence of a theoretical framework and debriefing. The review concludes that the increased use of fully IVR in nursing education has improved student learning outcomes; however, published literature on midwifery education is scarce.
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Open AccessReview
Integration of Immersive Approaches for Collaborative Processes with Building Information Modeling (BIM) Methodology for the AEC Industry: An Analysis of the Current State and Future Challenges
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Simone Balin, Cecilia M. Bolognesi and Paolo Borin
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 374-395; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040022 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 1
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This study aims to identify and analyze existing gaps in the integration of immersive approaches for collaborative processes with Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. Using a systematic approach that includes metadata analysis and review procedures, we
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This study aims to identify and analyze existing gaps in the integration of immersive approaches for collaborative processes with Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. Using a systematic approach that includes metadata analysis and review procedures, we have formulated specific research questions aimed at guiding future investigations into these gaps. Additionally, the analysis generates insights that could guide future research directions and improvements in the field. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of the literature, focusing on the interaction between immersiveness, BIM methodology, and collaborative processes. Data from 2010 to 2023 have been analyzed to ensure relevance and completeness. Our findings reveal current limitations in the field, such as the need for fully integrated prototypes and the execution of empirical studies to clarify operational processes. These limitations serve as the basis for our research questions. The study offers actionable insights that could guide future research and improvements in the AEC sector, particularly in the adoption of immersive technologies. The research underscores the urgency of addressing these challenges to facilitate ongoing development and greater adoption of immersive technologies in the AEC sector.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Networked Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality Systems)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
The Integration and Application of Extended Reality (XR) Technologies within the General Practice Primary Medical Care Setting: A Systematic Review
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Donovan Jones, Roberto Galvez, Darrell Evans, Michael Hazelton, Rachel Rossiter, Pauletta Irwin, Peter S. Micalos, Patricia Logan, Lorraine Rose and Shanna Fealy
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 359-373; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040021 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 1
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The COVID-19 pandemic instigated a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery with a rapid adoption of technology-enabled models of care, particularly within the general practice primary care setting. The emergence of the Metaverse and its associated technology mediums, specifically extended reality (XR) technology, presents
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The COVID-19 pandemic instigated a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery with a rapid adoption of technology-enabled models of care, particularly within the general practice primary care setting. The emergence of the Metaverse and its associated technology mediums, specifically extended reality (XR) technology, presents a promising opportunity for further industry transformation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the current application and utilisation of XR technologies within the general practice primary care setting to establish a baseline for tracking its evolution and integration. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was conducted and registered with the international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews as PROSPERO-CRD42022339905. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were quality appraised and included for review. All databases searched, inclusive of search terms, are supplied to enhance the transparency and reproducibility of the findings. All study interventions used virtual reality technology exclusively. The application of virtual reality within the primary care setting was grouped under three domains: (1) childhood vaccinations, (2) mental health, and (3) health promotion. There is immense potential for the future application of XR technologies within the general practice primary care setting. As technology evolves, healthcare practitioners, XR technology specialists, and researchers should collaborate to harness the full potential of implementing XR mediums.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Serious Games and Extended Reality in Healthcare and/or Education)
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Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Self-Learning in Higher Education with Virtual and Augmented Reality Role Games: Students’ Perceptions
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Luis Valladares Ríos, Ricardo Acosta-Diaz and Pedro C. Santana-Mancilla
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 343-358; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040020 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 5
Abstract
This study investigates how virtual and augmented reality role games impact self-learning in higher education settings. A qualitative research–action approach that involved creating augmented reality micro-stories to encourage creativity and critical thinking was used. Through role-playing, students collaborated and gained a deeper understanding
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This study investigates how virtual and augmented reality role games impact self-learning in higher education settings. A qualitative research–action approach that involved creating augmented reality micro-stories to encourage creativity and critical thinking was used. Through role-playing, students collaborated and gained a deeper understanding of the course, improving their self-learning abilities. The findings indicate that incorporating virtual and augmented reality into higher education positively affects self-learning, promoting active student engagement and meaningful learning experiences. Additionally, students perceive these immersive educational methods as bridging the gap between virtual and in-person learning environments, ultimately leading to enhanced educational results.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Simulations and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality)
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Open AccessReview
Metaverse as Tech for Good: Current Progress and Emerging Opportunities
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Muhammad Zahid Iqbal and Abraham G. Campbell
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 326-342; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040019 - 17 Oct 2023
Cited by 3
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Metaverse is an upcoming transformative technology that will impact our future society with immersive experiences. The recent surge in the adoption of new technologies and innovations in connectivity, interaction technology, and artificial realities can fundamentally change the digital world. The Metaverse concept is
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Metaverse is an upcoming transformative technology that will impact our future society with immersive experiences. The recent surge in the adoption of new technologies and innovations in connectivity, interaction technology, and artificial realities can fundamentally change the digital world. The Metaverse concept is the most recent trend to encapsulate and define the potential new digital landscape. However, with the introduction of 5G with high speed and low latency advancements in the hardware and software with the graphics power to display millions of polygons in 3D and blockchain technology, this concept is no longer fiction. This transition from today’s Internet to a spatially embodied Internet is, at its core, a transition from 2D to 3D interactions taking place in multiple virtual universes. In recent years, augmented virtual reality has created possibilities in the private and professional spheres. The new Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and Augmented Reality (AR) glasses can provide immersion in the physical sense. Technology must offer realistic experiences for users to turn this concept into reality. This paper focuses on the potential use cases and benefits of the Metaverse as a tech for good. The research paper outlines the potential areas where a positive impact could occur, highlights recent progress, and discusses the issues around trust, ethics, and cognitive load.
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Ludic and Narrative Immersion in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy to Animal Phobias: A Systematic Literature Review
by
Silvino Martins and Mário Vairinhos
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(4), 303-325; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2040018 - 4 Oct 2023
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In the context of therapeutic exposure to phobias, virtual reality (VR) offers innovative ways to motivate patients to confront their fears, an opportunity not feasible in traditional non-digital settings. This systematic literature review explores the utilization of narratives and digital games in this
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In the context of therapeutic exposure to phobias, virtual reality (VR) offers innovative ways to motivate patients to confront their fears, an opportunity not feasible in traditional non-digital settings. This systematic literature review explores the utilization of narratives and digital games in this context, focusing on identifying the most common ludic and narrative immersion features employed in studies dedicated to animal phobias. Via a search on the Scopus and Web of Science scientific databases, twenty-nine studies were selected for in-depth analysis. The primary objective was to evaluate the presence of ludic and narrative elements in each study to understand their immersive potential across both dimensions. Findings suggest that ludic elements are more commonly used than narrative elements, which are notably scarce, and the exploration of the emotional dimension of narrative immersion is limited. An essential takeaway is that features fostering narrative immersion are invariably linked to the ludic dimension, often functioning as secondary components. This study provides a guiding framework for developing therapeutic interventions in VR, emphasizing the incorporation of ludic and narrative aspects. Additionally, it identifies untapped research opportunities, particularly the integration of autonomous narratives that are less reliant on ludic elements.
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Open AccessArticle
Field Trips and Their Effect on Student Learning: A Comparison of Knowledge Assessment for Physical versus Virtual Field Trips in a Construction Management Course
by
Amna Salman
Virtual Worlds 2023, 2(3), 290-302; https://doi.org/10.3390/virtualworlds2030017 - 18 Sep 2023
Abstract
Teaching through field trips has been very effective in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines as it allows students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. However, it is not always feasible to take a large class on field trips due
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Teaching through field trips has been very effective in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines as it allows students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. However, it is not always feasible to take a large class on field trips due to time, safety, and cost limitations. To adequately prepare future professionals in the AEC industry, it is imperative that institutions adopt innovative methods of providing the field trip experience. One such approach is using virtual reality (VR) technology. Creating 3D VR construction environments and immersing students in that virtual world could provide an engaging and meaningful experience. Although researchers in AEC schools have developed and deployed many virtual field trips (VFTs) in education, little is known about their potential to provide the same knowledge base. For that reason, a VR app was created to teach students about the design and construction of steel structures, called the Steel Sculpture App (SSA). The SSA served as a VFT, and the location of the steel frame structure served as the actual field trip (AFT). The research was conducted in structure-related courses in the spring, summer, and fall of 2021 and the spring and fall of 2022 semesters. Each semester, students were split into groups, one being the control group and the other being the experimental group. The control groups learned through AFTs, whereas the experimental groups learned through VFTs. A knowledge test was administered at the end of each treatment to collect quantitative data on the students’ performance, understanding, and knowledge retention. The results indicated that the students learning from VFTs scored higher than those learning from AFTs. The paper discusses student assessment results and student feedback about replacing AFTs with VFTs in times of need.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Simulations and Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality)
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