Search

Augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR, respectively) are already being used or evaluated in some medical fields: however, the widespread application is still hampered by inconsistent and often confusing terminology, in particular for people who are not familiar with current developments. Additionally, the technical principles and requirements for its use are often insufficiently well known. This overview article therefore aims to clarify the most important terminology and presents the current technical state of the art, spanning from the requirements of medical imaging, through 3D models and the various forms of visualization to the interaction possibilities within VR and AR. This should help to facilitate a common language among developers and users and to ensure that the potentials offered by digital assistive technologies can be fully exploited in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the impact of virtual reality technologies on the training of managers in the tourism industry using the ATLAS platform. A survey conducted among 300 professionals in the tourism sector in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Jordan allowed for the identification of differences in the perception of virtual training among Russian and foreign managers. The results, obtained through the calculation of indices for each question, indicate a positive attitude among participants towards online learning and working with clients on the Internet. However, participants did not express a strong desire to expand their learning experience on virtual platforms. The findings of this research contribute to the international consolidation of knowledge regarding the influence of virtual platforms on the development of the tourism sector. The study may be of interest to students, educators, and professionals in the tourism industry, as well as virtual reality platform developers, promoting the advancement of the tourism sector through international knowledge exchange and a deeper understanding of technology utilization in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of embodiment when learning a technical procedure in immersive virtual reality (VR) by introducing a framework based on immersion and interactivity. The goal is to determine how increasing the levels of immersion and interactivity affect learning experiences and outcomes. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 177 high school students were assigned to one of four experimental conditions, varying levels of immersion (learning in immersive virtual reality wearing a head-mounted display (VR) vs. learning via a computer screen (PC)) and interactivity (directly manipulating objects using controllers/mouse and keyboard (congruent) vs. indirectly manipulating objects with a laser pointer to select a course of action (incidental)). The main outcome measure was a transfer task in which students were required to perform the task they had learned in the virtual environment using concrete objects in real life. Results demonstrated that students in the VR conditions experienced significantly higher levels of presence, agency, location, body ownership, and embodied learning compared to participants in the PC conditions. Additionally, students’ performance during the virtual lesson predicted their real-life transfer test. However, there were no significant effects of immersion or interactivity on any of the transfer measures. The results suggest that high immersion in VR can increase self-reported measures of presence, agency, location, body ownership, and embodied learning among students. However, increased embodiment—manipulated by adding immersion and congruent manipulation of objects did not improve transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive learning is predominantly constrained to technology-based interventions but has the potential for more diverse applications. This study reports on an experiment investigating the learning affordances of psychological immersion evoked by narrative absorption. A total of 228 participants were randomly assigned to one of three forms of media, an image, a word list, and a narrative, all of which contained identical items to be memorized for immediate and delayed free recall memory tests. Other variables measured were immersion, extraneous cognitive load, and mental imagery. ANOVA and correlation analyses showed that the narrative media was found to be significantly more immersive and that it evoked mental imagery in individuals at higher levels than both the list and image media. Importantly, there was more decay in memory recall between immediate and delayed tests for those exposed to the list and the image than for those who read the narrative. This implies the utility of immersive narratives for spontaneous mental image generation, which leads to improved knowledge retention. Other implications for immersive learning theory are discussed, and practical solutions for incorporating narrative immersion in learning are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postural control deteriorates following a transition between two environments, highlighting a sensory conflict when returning to natural conditions. Aquatic immersion offers new perspectives for studying postural control adaptation in transitional situations. Our aim is to study immediate and post-task static postural control adaptation on land after a prolonged fin swimming exercise in total immersion. Methods: Standing static postural control was assessed in 14 professional or recreational SCUBA divers (11 men, 3 women; 33.21 ± 10.70 years), with eyes open and closed, before, immediately after, and in the following 20 min following a fully-immersed 45-min fin swimming exercise. Centre-of-pressure metrics (COP) including average position, amplitude, velocity, length and 95% ellipse were evaluated in medial–lateral (x-axis) and anterior–posterior (y-axis) directions with a force platform. The Romberg ratio was also assessed for each metric. Results: A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of the measurement period on COPx vel (p = 0.01), COPy vel (p < 0.01) and Length (p < 0.01), and of the visual condition on COPy vel (p < 0.01) and Length (p < 0.01). Eyes closed measures were systematically higher than eyes open measures despite there being no significant difference in the Romberg ratio in all periods. Post-immersion, the velocity and total trajectory of the centre of pressure remained systematically lower than baseline values in both visual conditions. Conclusion: Post-immersion, COP velocity and length significantly decreased, suggesting a sensory reweighting strategy potentially associated with ankle stiffening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Episodic memory may essentially be memory for one's place within a temporally unfolding scene from a first-person perspective. Given this, pervasively used static stimuli may only capture one small part of episodic memory. A promising approach for advancing the study of episodic memory is immersing participants within varying scenes from a first-person perspective. We present a pool of distinct scene stimuli for use in virtual environments and a paradigm that is implementable across varying levels of immersion on multiple virtual reality (VR) platforms and adaptable to studying various aspects of scene and episodic memory. In our task, participants are placed within a series of virtual environments from a first-person perspective and guided through a virtual tour of scenes during a study phase and a test phase. In the test phase, some scenes share a spatial layout with studied scenes; others are completely novel. In three experiments with varying degrees of immersion, we measure scene recall, scene familiarity-detection during recall failure, the subjective experience of déjà vu, the ability to predict the next turn on a tour, the subjective sense of being able to predict the next turn on a tour, and the factors that influence memory search and the inclination to generate candidate recollective information. The level of first-person immersion mattered to multiple facets of episodic memory. The paradigm presents a useful means of advancing mechanistic understanding of how memory operates in realistic dynamic scene environments, including in combination with cognitive neuroscience methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of HMD: Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous studies have found positive effects of Game-Based Learning for mathematics. While most studies assume that this effect is explained by the presence of flow/immersion during games, this has not yet been established. The aim of the current study is to verify if immersion indeed is associated with mathematical skills improvement when using a Game-Based Learning intervention. This was tested among 59 Greek high school students, using authentic design. After having received a traditional education module, the students were tested and then engaged for four weeks in a desktop-based 3D Virtual Learning Environment where they could play mathematic minigames. They were subsequently re-tested to verify if they showed a significant increase in mathematical skills. The students showed an improvement in their mathematical skills (Cohen's d = 1.26), with significant results for functions, geometry, and thinking skills and methods. On the individual level, about half of the students showed a 10% increase in one of the domains (numbers & calculations, functions, geometry, thinking skills and methods, and algorithms and number theory). Immersion was found to be reflected by engagement and presence, but neither one of these aspects was associated with mathematical achievement after the intervention. It is concluded that Game-Based Learning is an effective approach to increasing mathematical skills, yet the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. The authors discuss several alternative mechanisms based on the literature that can be verified in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article criticises David Chalmers’ ‘Reality+’ by interrogating its distinction of virtual reality (VR) from 2D, non-VR video games, a distinction made on the grounds that VR is immersive and these types of video games are not because immersion is a distinct characteristic of 3D perceptually represented VR. Building on the Balcerak Jacksons’ account of ‘representational immersion’, which they acknowledge has ‘perceptual’ and ‘non-perceptual’ elements, I develop an account of ‘non-perceptual representational immersion’ and use it to critique Chalmers’ treatment of VR, immersion, and video games, indirectly problematizing his central ontological claim that ‘virtual reality is genuine reality’ and the reflections he makes about future society which rest upon it. I argue that video games are rich in non-perceptual representational immersion, which includes the representation of non-perceptual information about the structure and behaviour of a virtual world and its systems, the non-perceptual cognitive states that are generated in the player by the virtual world, and the immersion which comes from the constitutively cognitive nature of the player’s engagement with the virtual world, a cognitive engagement construed in an enactive sense. These are just as crucial to the phenomenon of digital immersion as perception. Immersion generally is a much more complicated phenomenon than Chalmers allows for, and it is better conceived as taking place on a spectrum which includes both 3D and 2D experiences of virtual worlds, not as hinging on 3D perceptual representation. I use ‘immersive simulation’ games as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced product presentation methods can enhance the product evaluation experience both during the design process and online shopping, as static images often fail to convey essential product details. Virtual Reality (VR) technologies hold great potential in this regard, becoming increasingly accessible to all users. However, the influence of display mediums on emotional responses and product assessment needs further investigation, especially using physiological measures to obtain more objective insights. In this study, we investigate the influence of VR and photorealistic images on assessing and observing virtual prototypes of game controllers. The Semantic Differential technique was employed for product assessment, while built-in eye-tracking was used to measure participants’ viewing time on various areas of interest (AOIs). Our findings show that the medium significantly affects not only product evaluation and confidence in the response but also how the user observes it, with sensory-related features being particularly influenced. These findings hold practical implications for product design and vendors, as understanding the relationship between visualization mediums and product evaluation enhances the design process and improves consumer experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication technology plays a crucial role in facilitating remote collaborative work. This study investigated sex differences in Perceived Participation Equality and User Experience across different communication formats, i.e., face-to-face communication, conventional video conferences, and Virtual Reality (VR). An empirical study was conducted involving 15 groups, each comprising three participants, who engaged in a decision-making task. A research model was developed to evaluate the interplay between perceived participation equality, empathy, and immersion. This model was employed across three communication conditions and included both male and female participants. These findings on sex differences in user experience could help create a connected, cohesive, and productive remote collaborative work environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active methodologies such as gamification, combined with emerging technologies like augmented reality, are enhancing learning environments that facilitate the development of essential competencies. Particularly, students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) require reinforcement of their Communicative Competence (CC) to activate their abilities to communicate effectively in different contexts, and interventions supported by this type of methodology and resources can contribute to this goal. The aim of this study is to analyse the contribution of an Augmented Gamified Environment to the development of CC in a sample of 54 subjects diagnosed in public Special Education centres. Correlational methodology is adopted with an exploratory and analytical approach. Individualized intervention sought to relate students' level of interaction and immersion in the environment's narrative to the increase in their CC. Their degree of autonomy when interacting with the tablet and immersion in the game was measured using observation-based instruments with categories that allowed for subsequent statistical analysis. Additionally, the influence of gender, age, severity of ASD, comorbidities, and type of language on the level of competence achieved was contrasted. The results show that engagement in mission execution favoured their CC. It was observed that the higher the immersion in the challenges, the higher the CC of the students. Specifically, older students with less severe ASD, functional oral language, and no comorbidity exhibited higher levels of CC. In conclusion, intervention for optimal results must be tailored to individual characteristics, present engaging narratives, and integrate playful activities that require communicative strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory research in the psychology of witness testimony is often criticized for its lack of ecological validity, including the use of unrealistic artificial stimuli to test memory performance. The purpose of our study is to present a method that can provide an intermediary between laboratory research and field studies or naturalistic experiments that are difficult to control and administer. It uses Video-360° technology and virtual reality (VR) equipment, which cuts subjects off from external stimuli and gives them control over the visual field. This can potentially increase the realism of the eyewitness's experience. To test the method, we conducted an experiment comparing the immersion effect, emotional response, and memory performance between subjects who watched a video presenting a mock crime on a head-mounted display (VR goggles; n = 57) and a screen (n = 50). The results suggest that, compared to those who watched the video on a screen, the VR group had a deeper sense of immersion, that is, of being part of the scene presented. At the same time, they were not distracted or cognitively overloaded by the more complex virtual environment, and remembered just as much detail about the crime as those viewing it on the screen. Additionally, we noted significant differences between subjects in ratings of emotions felt during the video. This may suggest that the two formats evoke different types of discrete emotions. Overall, the results confirm the usefulness of the proposed method in witness research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid-filled paranasal sinuses are suggested to be a valuable tool to distinguish between drowning and non-drowning postmortem, yet the mechanisms governing fluid entry remains unknown. We investigate if fluid-filled paranasal sinuses are caused by a passive influx from submersion or an active aspiration mechanism during drowning. The ovine nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses are remarkably similar anatomically to humans, and have been used for endoscopic surgical training in recent decades. We submerged 15 decapitated ovine heads from agricultural waste at a depth of 2 m in flowing water for 1, 8, and 24 h and 7 days. Paranasal sinuses were CT imaged and compared pre- and post-submersion to non-submerged controls. Furthermore, we examined the paranasal sinuses of a single homicide case of a non-drowned submerged subject. Results demonstrate that fluid passively enters the maxillary sinus postmortem in the non-drowned ovine heads following 1 h of submersion. Fluid volume was independent of submersion time and influenced by time out of water as well as handling, since volume was reduced between consecutive CT scans. In contrast to our hypothesis, the filling of the paranasal sinuses is due to passive influx of fluid from submersion rather than an active aspiration during drowning. The observation that paranasal sinuses were fluid-filled in a single medico-legal case of postmortem submersion supports the finding of passive influx. Consequently, careful interpretation of fluid-filled paranasal sinuses is required when bodies are found in water, as the finding cannot distinguish between postmortem submersion and drowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the formulation of injection moulded tire rubber reinforced bamboo polymer composites (RBP), its characterization, and comparison with bamboo polymer composite (BPC). Shredded milk packets (SMP) and maleated polyethylene (MaPE) were used as binding and coupling agents, respectively. Various combinations of RBP and BPC along with 100SMP were prepared. Density, bending strength, tensile strength, Water Immersion Test, Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) and Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA) tests were done to characterize the composite. It was observed that increasing GTR (ground tire rubber) content in RBP combinations enhances its resistance against water. It was found that water resistance and volumetric swelling properties of 40RBP was better than BPC combinations. Thickness swelling in 40RBP was lesser than 50BP and higher than 50BMA. Flexural and tensile strength properties of RBP combinations were decreasing with the increasing GTR content. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and tensile strength properties of RBP composites were comparable to those of BPC combinations, but a significant difference was observed between them for the modulus of rupture (MOR). On HDT analysis, it was observed that the deflection temperature was decreasing with increasing GTR content. TGA analysis depicted higher thermal stability of RBP combinations compared to that of 100SMP, 50BP, and 50BMA, as RBP combinations produced residues at higher temperatures. Encapsulation of GTR particles in polymer matrix was evident from SEM images, showing mechanical interaction between GTR and polymer matrix. Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen, along with traces of Silicon, Sulphur, Calcium, and Titanium were reported by EDAX analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retail is one of the sectors that Metaverse will strongly implicate. Given the hypothetical convergence of physical and the Metaverse shopping experiences, retailers in grocery segment must identify and forecast opportunities and emerging challenges to achieve a competitive advantage with appropriate marketing strategies. By anchoring in the brick-and-mortar context, the present paper discusses the sources of competitive advantage for grocery segment retailers in the Metaverse, highlighting differences and similarities with the traditional retail context. Moreover, following a marketing perspective, a research agenda is presented, looking at the retail sources of competitive advantage in the Metaverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines adolescent game usage and corresponding health-related risk behaviors during a period of limited social interaction and activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included 225 middle- and 225 high-school students in Seoul who completed a survey online from October 1 to 30, 2021. The study measured participants' game usage level and the health-related risk behavior index. Findings showed that participants who engaged in excessive gaming showed higher levels of health-related risk behaviors. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare the health-related risk behaviors of students in the general, potential, and high-risk groups on excessive gaming. Results indicated that female students in the high-risk group showed higher stress levels and fatigue (f = 5.549, p <.01, Cohen's d = 0.016) than the males of the same group. However, male students showed higher physical inactivity levels (f = 3.195, p >.05, Cohen's d = 0.009) than females. The post hoc test indicated clear sex distinctions among the general, potential, and high-risk groups on excessive gaming (p <.001). Among the high-risk game usage group, female students displayed a higher level of risk behaviors than males. Adolescent gaming addiction should be considered an emotional and behavioral disorder for which parental guidance and support are needed, and counseling experts and professionals must come together to provide a cure and reform program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although waste treatment using photosynthetic bacteria provides beneficial products, the use of free cells limits product recovery and biomass recycling. This research demonstrated the recycling efficiency of Rhodopseudomonas faecalis PA2 immobilized in Ca-alginate for waste cooking oil removal and value-added product recovery and provided a strategy to improve alginate bead stability. Oil removal by immobilized bacteria increased during recycling, but the beads cracked after 3 cycles. To improve bead stability and recycling time, the used beads were immersed in 2% CaCl2 for 24 h before use in each cycle to facilitate Ca2+ coordination in the alginate. After 10 cycles (90 days), the treated beads showed no disintegration and removed 76.26% oil, an increase of 53.87% over single-use beads. The scanning electron microscopic images revealed no surface damage; the internal pores of the cross-section bead where bacteria resided remained unchanged, whereas the untreated bead was destroyed. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed an increase in Ca2+ in the treated beads, indicating Ca2+ absorption during bead immersion. The recovery of value-added products after 10 treatment cycles demonstrated an increase in biomass, protein, and carotenoids by 554.05%, 68.38%, and 2,719.10%, respectively, compared to that for single-use immobilized bacteria. The proposed method to enhance alginate bead recycling, as well as photosynthetic bacteria immobilized in alginate beads, could be a viable alternative for the long-term treatment of waste cooking oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research describes the existence of a relationship between cortical activity and the regulation of bulbar respiratory centers through the evaluation of the electroencephalographic (EEG) signal during respiratory challenges. For example, we found evidences of a reduction in the frequency of the EEG (alpha band) in both divers and non-divers during apnea tests. For instance, this reduction was more prominent in divers due to the greater physiological disturbance resulting from longer apnea time. However, little is known about EEG adaptations during tests of maximal apnea, a test that voluntarily stops breathing and induces dyspnea. Results: Through this mini-review, we verified that a protocol of successive apneas triggers a significant increase in the maximum apnea time and we hypothesized that successive maximal apnea test could be a powerful model for the study of cortical activity during respiratory distress. Conclusion: Dyspnea is a multifactorial symptom and we believe that performing a successive maximal apnea protocol is possible to understand some factors that determine the sensation of dyspnea through the EEG signal, especially in people not trained in apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the excitement about virtual reality and its potential for things like entertainment, art, education, and activism is its ability to generate experiences that are powerfully immersive. However, discussions of VR tend to invoke the notion of immersive experience without subjecting it to closer scrutiny; and discussions often take it for granted that immersive experience is a single unified phenomenon. Against this, we argue that there are four distinct types or aspects of immersive experience that should be distinguished: representational immersion, which corresponds roughly to what is sometimes called “psychological presence”; participatory immersion, which is related to the interactive aspects of VR experience; affective immersion, which has to do with the subject’s emotional relation to the experience; and narrative immersion, which captures the phenomenon of being caught up in the flow of events experienced. We argue that this four-way distinction helps us understand the powerfully immersive character of VR, while also recognizing its continuity with the immersion we experience with media such as novels, films, and music. We also argue that the account of immersion we offer here lets us better understand the connection between VR and empathy, charting a middle course between extreme enthusiasts who view VR as the ultimate “empathy machine” and extreme skeptics who argue that this attitude is misguided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the gamification of health applications designed to help patients manage chronic pain. Through description of one such program and in-depth interviewing, I describe why gamified pain applications are appealing to patients living with chronic pain. Individuals living with chronic pain are especially disposed to try novel pain management technologies due to the in-control and out-of-control paradox of pain (Leder, 2016). These applications are seductive not only due to this embodied phenomenon, but also because gamification taps into the logic of proactive self-management that is tantamount to an era of biomedicalization, wherein subjects are incentivized to take control of their own health in the face of austerity budgets. However, pain also limits the user’s ability to adopt an immersive, lusory attitude. Thus, the speculative promises of gamified health technologies are just that – speculative, and their immersive potential should not be overstated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of VR games opens up a wide range of opportunities for the development of dexterity, speed and precision of movements among various professional groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a commercial immersive VR music game on hand–eye coordination and reaction time speed in students. This study enrolled 32 individuals, randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The intervention consisted of a 15-min training session of the immersive music game “Beat Saber”, once a day for 5 consecutive days. The primary outcomes included reaction time measurements: the plate tapping test and the ruler-drop test (Ditrich's test), trial making test (TMT) A and TMT B to assess coordination and visual attention, likewise VR sickness assessment by Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ). The secondary outcome included an energy expenditure assessment (SenseWear Armband). The data analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in hand–eye coordination in the experimental group, with no improvement in the control group. The results were similar in measurements of reaction time. Analysis of the VRSQ questionnaire results showed a statistically significant reduction in oculomotor domain symptoms and total score during successive training days. The immersive VR music game has the potential to improve reaction time and hand–eye coordination in students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the research outputs of immersive technology in the field of education for the past two decades. To this end, we retrieved 2665 articles that contained 75674 valid references from the Scopus database for the period between 2001–2021. Several structural and temporal metrics were used to find out the emerging topics proposed by the literature of immersive technology in the field of education. Results recorded 869 clusters entailing 2561 nodes and 3372 links. The major clusters identified in our results were related to virtual reality, augmented reality, and virtual worlds. We found that immersion research was grounded on a robust theoretical framework such as constructivism, experiential learning, and cognitive load theory. We found diversified venues of publication in which the immersion literature appeared in 741 peer-reviewed journals. Our results indicate that seven educational technology journals were the most highly co-cited journals where Computers and Education and British Journal of Educational Technology were the most influential journals in terms of quantity and quality of the published articles, recording the highest h-index. Tips and suggestions for future research projects were also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By adopting a situated and interactional approach, we explore students' immersive VR experiences as resources for collaborative meaning making and learning. We draw on data from a project in which teachers and researchers co-developed a learning design for upper secondary students involving immersive VR technology. In this learning design, students viewed a cinematic VR film where they encountered different people telling personal stories about exclusion and discrimination, followed by reflective group dialogues with their teacher about their experiences in this environment. Through a detailed interaction analysis of these dialogues, we identify four dimensions that characterize students' meaning making: (1) the feeling of taking part in conversations, (2) attending to bodily expressions of others, (3) students' own bodily responses, (4) teacher guidance. We discuss how the findings from our analysis contribute to the field of CSCL, and which also have implications for instructional work that includes the use of immersive VR environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of minor Y on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of as-cast Mg-3Zn-1Mn-xY (x = 0,0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0wt.%) alloys were investigated. The microstructure revealed that the precipitated phases changed obviously in as-cast Mg-3Zn-1Mn-xY alloys accompanying the stepwise addition of Y element. The corrosion results shown that corrosion resistance of as-cast Mg-3Zn-1Mn-xY alloys were primarily strengthened accompanying the addition of Y elements before 1wt.%, while further addition deteriorated this effect. Among them, as-cast Mg-3Zn-1Mn-1Y alloy containing α-Mg + Mg3Zn6Y(I-phase) phase performed lower corrosion rate (CR = 0.571 ± 0.03 mm/y) and largest polarization resistance (Rp = 1129.94 Ω∙cm2) than that of other alloys containing α-Mg + Mg7Zn3 and α-Mg + Mg3Zn3Y2(W-phase) phases, which was mainly ascribed to the strip Mg3Zn6Y phase continuous distributed at grain boundary to hinder corrosion spreading as well lower potential difference |E|= 0.22 V existed between Mg matrix and cathode phases to relax the micro-galvanic effect. In addition, the dominant corrosion films of Mg-3Zn-1Mn-xY alloy were consisted of MgO, Mg(OH)2, hydroxyapatite as well as a small fraction of MgHPO4, they were conducive to the self-repair of the product films to enhance the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rachycentron canadum (cobia) is a marine fish species of high economic value in aquaculture due to its fast growth rate and good feed conversion efficacy. Regrettably, the industry has been affected by significant setbacks from high mortality due to diseases. Consequently, an improved perception of innate immunity correlated to each mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in teleost fish is necessary to understand hosts' response towards infections better. The utilization of polysaccharides in seaweed to stimulate the immune system has gathered unprecedented attention. The present study examined the immunostimulatory effects of Sarcodia suae water extracts (SSWE) on in vivo gill-, gut- and skin-associated lymphoid tissues (GIALT, GALT, and SALT) via immersion and oral ingestions. The GIALT genes (TNF-α, Cox2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 A/F1-3, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, MHCIa, IgM, and IgT) except IL-10 recorded positive upregulations in a dose-dependent manner post 24 h immersion in SSWE, indicating the algae extract contained bioactive compounds that could stimulate the immune genes. The upregulation of IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 in the gills and hindgut post-SSWE immersion indicated that the extract could promote Th1-related responses in the MALTs. The modulation of immune gene expressions in the feeding trial was less potent than in the SSWE immersion. These findings indicated that the SSWE stimulated robust immune responses in both the GIALT and GALT of cobia. This suggests that the SSWE could be further explored as an effective immersive stimulant for fish, enhancing their immune system against pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advances have led to immersive consumer experiences becoming increasingly common. However, there has been relatively little discussion of the consumer detriment that results from the exploitation of immersion. In this article, we argue that a consumer who is immersed is particularly susceptible to detriment because of their immersion and that the law on unfair commercial practices can, and should, play a central role in addressing this. The focus is upon immersion in videogames, but the lessons drawn extend to other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation training is indispensable in emergency medicine, especially for enhancing patient safety. Methods and technologies used include a wide spectrum ranging from simple skill trainers to complex full-scale simulated environments integrating standardized patient actors. Limitations include the simulation of dynamic changes of clinical symptoms, the depiction of emotions and patient movements as well as complex environments, such as lively traffic. Extended reality (XR) holds the potential to overcome these limitations. Methods/aims: Starting with the technological basis and the didactic considerations in the field of XR, the paper reflects the potentials and limitations of this new technology in the domain of medical simulation training. Further focus is put on the integration of XR into existing training curricula. Results: The XR covers various technologies, ranging from PC-based applications that are similar to conventional computer games, over virtual realities enabling spatially freely navigable 3‑dimensional simulation (using closed 3D glasses: head mounted displays, HMD), to mixed-reality applications that combine virtual elements and real physical objects; however, technology alone does not stimulate learning. As with other simulation methods, it is crucial with XR to implement learning objectives, methods and technologies in a suitable teaching-learning arrangement and to familiarize teachers and students with the new technology. Evidence in the literature with respect to learning success is limited by the heterogeneity of technologies, target groups, teaching-learning arrangements and learning outcomes. Overall, significant increases can be shown for the intrinsic motivation of learners, and for high emotional participation (measured as perceived presence in the virtual environment). Discussion: Technological developments and the increasing use of digital media in emergency medical education and training favor the leap from XR-based pure demonstration projects to educational practice. Decisive for the educational success are the clear orientation towards concrete learning goals and a thorough familiarization with the new technology. Conclusion: Simulation training based on XR expands the spectrum of existing simulation methods to integrate new dimensions of learning objectives. Further research on the effectiveness of this method is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : This systematic review aimed to compare the effects of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality on upper extremity function in stroke survivors by employing a network meta-analysis approach. Data sources: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, APA PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched. Virtual reality was used for upper extremity rehabilitation; dose-matched conventional rehabilitation was used for comparison. Fugl-Meyer Assessment was used to assess upper extremity function. Searches were limited to English language randomized controlled trials. Methods: Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. A random-effects frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted by assuming a common random-effects standard deviation for all comparisons in the network. Results: Twenty randomized controlled trials with 813 participants were included, with each study evaluated as good quality. Immersive virtual reality systems were most effective at improving upper extremity function, followed by non-immersive virtual reality systems, then non-immersive gaming consoles of Microsoft Kinect and Nintendo Wii. Conventional rehabilitation was least effective. Immersive virtual reality was estimated to induce 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25, 2.53) and 1.38 (95% CI: 0.55, 2.20) standard mean differences of improvements in upper extremity function, compared to Nintendo Wii intervention and conventional rehabilitation, respectively. Conclusion: This systematic review and network meta-analysis highlights the superior effects of immersive virtual reality to non-immersive virtual reality systems and gaming consoles on upper extremity motor recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the effect of long-term immersion on the corrosion response and the consequent passive film formation process of lean duplex stainless steel 2101 in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The corrosion behavior of the alloy has been monitored through long term immersion tests at different time intervals, viz. 0, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 70 days. The electrochemical tests, such as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, have been performed after each immersion period to understand the change in corrosion rate and passivation behaviour, respectively, with respect to immersion duration. With the increase in immersion duration, the pitting potential (Epit) gradually shifts towards a nobler direction with a simultaneous reduction in corrosion rate (rcorr). This has been attributed to the gradual increase in the thickness of the passive film with the increase in duration of immersion, as revealed through the EIS analysis. The passive film is found to become nearly stable after 40 days of immersion of the specimen in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Interestingly, the thickness and stability of the passive film obtained after 40 days of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution are comparable to the passive film that is formed in mildly passivating media, namely borate buffer solution. An investigation of post immersion surface morphology has also confirmed the gradual improvement in the uniformity and compactness of the oxide-rich passive layer with increase in immersion period, which eventually led to improved corrosion resistance of the alloy in the saline environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has been mainstreamed for at-home use, with various consumer-oriented devices released by media firms such as Meta, Google, Samsung, and HTC. The present research investigates the role of psychological traits—including immersive tendencies, absorption, sensation seeking, need for cognition, neophobia, and belief in science—as well as trait levels of individual innovativeness, self-perception of social well-being, and owner demographics, in predicting VR adoption rates and sustained use over time. Separate analyses were conducted for different classes of VR device (fixed, mobile, and standalone devices). In general, psychological factors generally emerged as more determinative of adoption than did demographics. Users' immersive tendencies predicted earlier adoption of VR technology while absorption was associated with later adoption, with both predictive of higher overall initial usage of different types of devices. Additionally, perceiving oneself as socially successful was associated with higher initial VR usage, while a tendency to see one's emotions as influenced by in-person rather than online contacts was negatively associated with usage. Finally, belief in science predicted greater consistency in usage over time while higher levels of absorption were associated with unstable usage patterns. These findings expand upon the limited work previously investigating the role of individual differences in adoption of VR and mark the promise of psychometrics for understanding the diffusion and continued usage of consumer-facing VR devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative methods have thus far been the predominant methodological stance of virtual presence research, leaving much to be desired in terms of qualitative understanding. Yet, virtual experiences are a highly personal engagement, unique to each individual, and their presence in virtual reality can be viewed in terms of its experiential individuality. This aspect of the virtual experience is overlooked by conventional quantitative methods, which clusters ratings or scores to form group deductions. Therefore, to address the qualitative gap in the literature and provide an appropriate examination of virtual experiences from the perspective of the individual, an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach was undertaken. This alternate methodology sought to reveal which aspects of virtual experiences users identify as enabling feelings of presence. Examination of common themes among accounts of individuals were performed, to investigate the generation of feelings of presence in virtual reality. Online recruitment provided six interviewees who participated in online semi-structured interviews, prior to Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: visual satisfaction, freedom of interaction and suspension of real life. Expectance, realism and prevention of disbelief are among the sub-themes identified that contributed to the interviewee's highly present experiences. The identified themes demonstrated the greatest influences of enabling a deeper sense of presence, in turn enhancing their experiences within virtual reality. In acknowledging these mitigating influences, it is hoped this may enable future virtual systems to build upon the research provided and produce consistently high-presence experiences. Consequently, this can aid educational, therapeutic and entertainment applications of virtual reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During virtual reality usage, two egocentric mental representations are constructed simultaneously. The first representation is rooted in the physical reality in which VR is set up, and the second originates from the mental construction of a computer-generated virtual environment. In both cases, participants configure their posture based on multimodal stimuli while responding to environmental cues. In most cases, the postural cues provided by the digital and real environment may be conflicting. In this study, 50 right-handed volunteers were enrolled. In a pre-test session, attentional focus-related personality bias (perspective-taking) was assessed, and afterward, postural movements and presence experiences were measured while the participants performed a spatial orientation task in VR. Participants were placed in an upright position with their right hands positioned in front of a physically real point on the laboratory wall. Afterward, participants were exposed to a VR environment in which they performed a room-tilting task. Participants with higher hand-related presence scores showed decreased compensatory hand drift in the VR environment. The rate of contralateral hand drift showed a reversed association with the intensity of the perspective-taking trait. VR-induced postural instability can be attenuated by the compensative hand drift that alleviates the conflicts between the two rival inner VR and outer VR environments that compete for attention and provide different reference cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with the ongoing diversification and commercial success of highly immersive media technologies (e.g., VR headsets), both content producers and scientific scholars have become highly invested in understanding the psychological consequences of experiencing media in these new and lifelike ways. While many studies underscore positive effects of high media immersivity—such as increased enjoyment or persuasive success—others warn about the intense cognitive load that technologies such as VR might put on their users. In a laboratory experiment with N = 121 participants, we compare the cognitive load experienced while watching a 360° video on a laptop screen or via an immersive VR head-mounted display. Furthermore, we scrutinize two prominent explanations for the additional cognitive load in immersive media settings, i.e., the role of spatial presence and cybersickness. As expected, the VR condition results in higher cognitive load, spatial presence, and cybersickness than the 2D condition. However, by means of a parallel mediation model, we observe that only cybersickness emerges as a meaningful mediator of participants' strained cognitive capacity; spatial presence, on the other hand, remains statistically irrelevant in this regard. We discuss our findings considering implications for media producers and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When an audience member becomes immersed, their attention shifts towards the media and story, and they allocate cognitive resources to represent events and characters. Here, we investigate whether it is possible to measure immersion using continuous behavioural and physiological measures. Using television and film clips, we validated dual-task reaction times, heart rate, and skin conductance against self-reported narrative engagement. We find that reaction times to a secondary task were strongly positively correlated with self-reported immersion: slower reaction times were indicative of greater immersion, particularly emotional engagement. Synchrony in heart rate across participants was associated with self-reported attentional and emotional engagement with the story, although we found no such relationship with skin conductance. These results establish both dual-task reaction times and heart rate as candidate measures for the real-time, continuous, assessment of audience immersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of the research was to determine how slag reacted in water before being mixed with other concrete proportions. There were two different mixing procedures employed. Initially, a traditional mixing process was utilized, in which the slag was mixed in with the other concrete proportions directly. The slag was then soaked in water before being added to the other concrete elements, which was a novel mixing process. The present study includes 5 different percentages of slag by replacement of cement (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%). In the aspect of concrete compressive strength, the novel mixing method showed a favorable sign when compared to the traditional mixing method. For a 1-h immersion of 2.5% slag in water, highest compressive strength was determined. The maximum value at 2.5% slag immersion for a period of 1 h was fixed, and further cement replacement using fly ash in traditional mixing mode was studied. The study used fly ash percentages of (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%). The optimum mix's mechanical performance was compared to the control mix and the mix that corresponded to GGBS's traditional mixing mode. Various experiments were also carried out, including sorptivity, water absorption, and the Rapid Chloride Penetration Test, and the performance of the three mixes was examined. XRD and SEM analysis was also performed on the optimum mix and mix of traditional mixing mode were compared in the study. By limiting the use of GGBS, the novel mixing method has not only increased the mechanical strength of the mix, but it has also reduced the carbonation depth, which is a severe problem when it comes to the durability of concrete structures. In addition to reducing carbonation depth with slag, the use of fly ash lowered carbon footprint, achieving the criterion for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational thinking (CT) has become an essential skill nowadays. For young students, CT competency is required to prepare them for future jobs. This competency can facilitate students' understanding of programming knowledge which has been a challenge for many novices pursuing a computer science degree. This study focuses on designing and implementing a virtual reality (VR) game-based application (iThinkSmart) to support CT knowledge. The study followed the design science research methodology to design, implement, and evaluate the first prototype of the VR application. An initial evaluation of the prototype was conducted with 47 computer science students from a Nigerian university who voluntarily participated in an experimental process. To determine what works and what needs to be improved in the iThinkSmart VR game-based application, two groups were randomly formed, consisting of the experimental (n = 21) and the control (n = 26) groups respectively. Our findings suggest that VR increases motivation and therefore increase students' CT skills, which contribute to knowledge regarding the affordances of VR in education and particularly provide evidence on the use of visualization of CT concepts to facilitate programming education. Furthermore, the study revealed that immersion, interaction, and engagement in a VR educational application can promote students' CT competency in higher education institutions (HEI). In addition, it was shown that students who played the iThinkSmart VR game-based application gained higher cognitive benefits, increased interest and attitude to learning CT concepts. Although further investigation is required in order to gain more insights into students learning process, this study made significant contributions in positioning CT in the HEI context and provides empirical evidence regarding the use of educational VR mini games to support students learning achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trunk control and postural instability remain critical markers of functional status in Parkinson's Disease (PD). As pharmacological and invasive neuro-stimulation interventions provide only limited benefits for trunk and postural control, exercise-based interventions may provide the only effective path to improving functional outcomes for balance in PD. We describe the framework for a virtual reality (VR) graded exercise-based intervention focused on improving trunk mobility and control, including preliminary outcomes on perceptions and motion capabilities of individuals with PD. The study collected whole-body motion capture from 11 PD participants (8M, 3F; H&Y Stage I–III) as they performed tasks within a custom-designed set of VR therapies. Therapies involved static interactions (e.g., matching a cube sequence set to anthropometrically relevant locations to elicit specific trunk motions—Matchality), and more dynamic tasks (e.g., intercepting virtual fish jumping from a lake—Fishality, or a virtual session of dodgeball—Dodgeality). Participants were able to safely complete all tasks while performing trunk excursions requiring functionally relevant ranges of motion, and which altered across VR environment (F(1,10) = 8.319, p = 0.016). Overall, satisfaction with the MoVR therapy suite was high with 96% of responses showing agreement to questions relating to 'immersion,' 'fun,' and elements of player engagement. These results provide early safety, usability, and feasibility outcomes for VR interventions that require specific trunk excursions. Future work should confirm the effectiveness of VR interventions longitudinally on PD-specific trunk outcomes (e.g., trunk rigidity) and global balance/mobility measures associated with improved functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steady software supply is a crucial driver of platform sales. While publishers benefit from releasing software across multiple platforms to tap a greater market, platform manufacturers often seek exclusive release to differentiate from competitors. Research has examined such software multihoming across competing platforms of the same technology generation (i.e., the proximal market); however, publishers increasingly multihome software to platforms in distal markets. In the video game console industry, these include previous-generation consoles, handhelds, or mobile devices. This study investigates multihoming to distal markets in the seventh and eighth game console generations. Whereas multihoming to previous-generation consoles cannibalizes focal console sales, multihoming to mobile devices exerts complementary effects. Software quality and console age moderate these relationships, with negative spillovers from multihoming to previous-generation consoles being rooted in lower-quality games and games released later in the console's lifecycle. By contrast, multihoming to mobile devices is most beneficial early on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersion in video games is a complex psychological process often defined as a unitary phenomenon, but it actually takes at least a dual form, as video games encompass both narratives and simulations. This study aimed to understand the relationship between sensory and mental immersive experiences in video game play. A mixed-methods, interview-based study was conducted with eight dedicated players. Phenomenological analysis revealed a dynamic relationship between sensory and mental immersion, with one type sometimes becoming dominant or both combining and transitioning throughout gameplay. Recognizing and measuring these distinct experiences is crucial for advancing video game scholarship and understanding the effects of gameplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virtual reality (VR) enables immersion in an interactive digital world with realistic experiences, that can be applied for controlled and personalized interventions. This review summarizes the current research on VR in the treatment of mental disorders. Methods: Selective literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: An increasing number of publications report the therapeutic application of VR for the treatment of mental disorders. Most VR applications are based on established therapy approaches, such as exposure therapy. According to meta-analytic data, virtual exposure therapy (VRET) for specific phobia and agoraphobia with panic disorder is as effective as traditional in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of social phobia is significantly more effective than waitlist and placebo control groups with, however, currently inconsistent metanalytic results when compared to in vivo exposure therapy. VRET for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is similar in effectiveness compared to active psychotherapy. For psychosis, positive results have been reported for the VR-based treatment of auditory verbal hallucinations. For patients with a substance use disorder, VR can induce craving, with still unverified diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Conclusions: VRET can broaden the psychotherapy options for anxiety disorders. Encouraging results of VR-based treatments for psychosis and PTSD indicate the need for further research concerning its effectiveness and safety. In the field of substance use disorders, evaluation of clinical-orientated VR applications is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the interplay between the recently defined concept of minimum homotopy area and the classical topic of self-overlapping curves. The latter are plane curves which are the image of the boundary of an immersed disk. Our first contribution is to prove new sufficient combinatorial conditions for a curve to be self-overlapping. We show that a curve γ with Whitney index 1 and without any self-overlapping subcurves is self-overlapping. As a corollary, we obtain sufficient conditions for self-overlappingness solely in terms of the Whitney index of the curve and its subcurves. These results follow from our second contribution, which shows that any plane curve γ , modulo a basepoint condition, is transformed into an interior boundary by wrapping around γ with Jordan curves. Equivalently, the minimum homotopy area of γ is reduced to the minimal possible threshold, namely the winding area, through wrapping. In fact, we show that n + 1 wraps suffice, where γ has n vertices. Our third contribution is to prove the equivalence of various definitions of self-overlapping curves and interior boundaries, often implicit in the literature. We also introduce and characterize zero-obstinance curves, further generalizations of interior boundaries defined by optimality in minimum homotopy area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to explore a new form of immersive animation scene design and improve the application effect of virtual reality (VR) in immersive animation scene design. First, the research status of VR and the related concepts of animation scene design are analyzed, and the basic characteristics of visual effects in immersive VR animation scenes are summarized. Second, three elements to create immersion in a VR animation scene are color, light and shadow, and digital information technology. Finally, the application of VR technology to an animation scene design is analyzed, the problem of vertigo caused by VR animation scenes is deeply discussed, the vertigo test process in an immersive VR scene is proposed, and an experiment is designed to verify it. The results show that in the design of an immersive VR scene, the relative moving speed of the forward straight line should be maintained less than 6.5 times of the audience’s perceived speed, and the optimal relative moving speed of the scene should be maintained below 5 times of the audience’s perceived speed when they moving backward. In the design of a rotating animation scene, the long-term high-speed rotation should be avoided. If there must be a rotating scene, the rotation speed should be as low as 50°/s. The research provides some guidance for the application of VR to immersive animation scene design. This study discusses immersive animation scene design from dizziness prospective. It is novel. This study introduces relative motion perception illusion and use displacement velocity and relative displacement to analyze VR vertigo. Len motion is divided into forward and reverse linear, horizontal and vertical rotation and camera center rotation to study vertigo source. The dizziness evaluation model is designed and combined with the virtual indoor scene developed to achieve a visual immersion experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human spatial memories are usually evaluated using computer screens instead of real arenas or landscapes where subjects could move voluntarily and use allocentric cues to guide their behavior. A possible approach to fill this gap is the adoption of virtual reality, which provides the opportunity to create spatial memory tasks closer to real-life experience. Here we present and evaluate a new software to create experiments using this technology. Specifically, we have developed a spatial memory task that is carried out in a computer-assisted virtual environment where participants walk around a virtual arena using a joystick. This spatial memory task provides an immersive environment where the spatial component is constantly present without the use of virtual reality goggles. The design is similar to that of tasks used for animal studies, allowing a direct comparison across species. We found that only participants who reported using spatial cues to guide their behavior showed significant learning and performed significantly better during a memory test. This tool allows evaluation of human spatial memory in an ecological environment and will be useful to develop a wide range of other tasks to assess spatial cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is common in the cognitive and computational sciences to regard virtual reality (VR) as composed of illusory experiences, given its immersive character. In this paper, we adopt an ecological-enactive perspective on cognition (Sect. 3) to evaluate the nature of VR and one’s engagement with it. Based on a post-cognitivist conception of illusion, we reject the commonly held assumption that virtual reality experiences (VREs) are illusory (Sect. 4). Our positive take on this issue is that VR devices, like other technological devices, can be embodied during use, which is why they can be the source of experiences (Sect. 5). We then propose a new concept to interpret VREs, namely, allusion, which means that the subject acts as if the virtual experiences are real (Sect. 6). This kind of engagement has a volitional aspect, which is evident in the onboarding of VR devices and which allows us to distinguish VREs from other experiences. We conclude that, even though we have experiences that afford certain interactions in VR, the strong continuity between cognitive and biological processes is not sustained therein. This characterizes a difference of kind—given the current state of technology—between VREs and fully fledged cognitive states, which nevertheless allows for constrained experimentation in cognitive science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used to simulate various real-like environments suitable to explore and interact, similar to being genuinely there (i.e., allowing presence). User experience in virtual environments (VE) is highly subjective, and presence-based self-reports have addressed its assessment; however, it is unclear how a diverse set of VR features relates to the subscales of the questionnaires (e.g., engagement, immersion, or Attention), which could be helpful to create and improve immersive VE. Consequently, most current studies have appealed to self-defined criteria to design their VE in response to a lack of accepted methodological frameworks. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the current publications to identify critical design elements to promote presence and realistic experiences in VR-games users. We extracted information from different databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ACM, IEEE, Springer, and Scholar) and used inclusion and exclusion criteria to reduce the original set of 595 candidates to 53 final papers. The findings showed that better quality and quantity in resources allocation (software and hardware) and more accuracy in objects and characters, which all refer to higher immersion, provide Place Illusion (PI), i.e., the spatial dimension of presence. Furthermore, Scenario's Realism, external stimuli, and coherent match between virtual and real worlds (including body representation) are decisive to set Plausibility Illusion (PSI), i.e., the dimension associated with coherence. Finally, performance feedback, character customization, and multiplayer mechanics are crucial to assure motivation and agency, which are user-exclusive but crucial to defining presence's perception. Moreover, about 65% of the analyzed studies agreed that immersive media and social interaction could simultaneously influence PI and PSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Unterrichtswissenschaft (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Virtual reality (VR) can be beneficial for learning and for increasing learners' engagement and motivation. However, aggregations of studies on language learning in high-immersion VR are scarce. This paper offers a systematic review of existing research on VR-based language learning, encompassing 32 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2020. The study yielded three main language-related findings: (1) multiple exposures to VR are necessary for effective learning; (2) VR is beneficial for contextual vocabulary learning; and (3) perceptions of language learning in VR are positive, but its effectiveness is inconclusive. We also describe VR technology trends, VR content used in language learning, and learners' perceptions of learning languages in VR. This systematic review is useful for language educators, researchers, and VR app developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes and investigates the immersion principle in multimedia learning. A sample of 102 middle school students took a virtual field trip to Greenland via a head mounted display (HMD) or a 2D video as an introductory lesson within a 6-lesson inquiry-based climate change intervention. The HMD group scored significantly higher than the video group on presence (d = 1.43), enjoyment (d = 1.10), interest (d =.57), and retention in an immediate (d =.61) and delayed posttest (d =.70). A structural equation model indicated that enjoyment mediated the pathway from instructional media to immediate posttest, and interest mediated the pathway from instructional media to delayed posttest score, indicating that these factors may play different roles in the learning process with immersive media. This work contributes to the cognitive affective model of immersive learning, and suggests that immersive lessons can have positive longitudinal effects for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developments in visual and tracking systems have expanded virtual reality (VR) applications and led to VR becoming a powerful tool for decision making, planning, and conducting training and experiments across several fields. VR's goal is to fully immerse a user in a virtual environment through simulating the same kinds of physical and psychological reactions they would experience in the real world. Fidelity is a common and useful concept for distinguishing different VR systems, as a common goal for VR is to provide a high-fidelity experience similar to the real world. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive framework and a scale for evaluating the fidelity of VR systems by addressing their architecture and the factors that affect overall fidelity with respect to the digital sensory and tracking systems used. The proposed framework characterizes itself from other fidelity evaluation frameworks in the involvement of integration and synchronization of VR system data and devices as the main factors in fidelity evaluation. Also, it presents a scale for fidelity evaluation of VR systems and defines high-level useful concepts for distinguishing different VR systems with respect to fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]