A Natural Experiment: Using Immersive Technologies to Study the Impact of “All‐Natural” Labeling on Perceived Food Quality,Nutritional Content,and Liking

The “all‐natural” label is used extensively in the United States. At many point‐of‐purchase locations, employed servers provide food samples and call out specific label information to influence consumers’ purchase decisions. Despite these ubiquitous practices, it is unclear what information is conveyed to consumers by the all‐natural label or how it impacts judgments of perceived food quality, nutritional content, and acceptance. We used a novel approach incorporating immersive technology to simulate a virtual in‐store sampling scenario where consumers were asked by a server to evaluate identical products with only one being labeled all‐natural. Another condition evaluated the impact of the in‐store server additionally emphasizing the all‐natural status of one sample. Results indicated the all‐natural label significantly improved consumer's perception of product quality and nutritional content, but not liking or willingness to pay, when compared to the regular sample. With the simple emphasis of the all‐natural claim by the in‐store server, these differences in quality and nutritional content became even more pronounced, and willingness to pay increased significantly by an average of 8%. These results indicate that in a virtual setting consistent with making food purchases, an all‐natural front‐of‐pack label improves consumer perceptions of product quality and nutritional content. In addition, information conveyed to consumers by employed servers has a further, substantial impact on these variables suggesting that consumers are highly susceptible to social influence at the point of purchase.     

虚拟现实技术在绿色基础设施健康效益评估中的应用

快速的城市化进程在不经意间将人类与自然环境割裂开来。因此所带来的日益严重的城市污染和人们进行户外活动的局限性,对人的身心健康和认知都产生了影响。城市规划师可以通过绿色基础设施营建来降低城市化带来的负面影响,如自然式公园、生态滤沟、植物墙和行道树等。然而,哪些绿色基础设施要素能否用于改善人们的健康福祉仍不十分明确。研究人员在绿色基础设施健康效益研究中引入虚拟现实技术（VR）,为循证设计提供科学可靠的依据。VR技术仅需要较低的成本和专业技术。受试者佩戴仪器进入沉浸式虚拟世界,过程中同步采集心理和生理指标,用于预测不同自然场景对健康和认知功能的长期影响。通过对VR系统、内容创作、实验设计、健康指标测量和安全注意事项的方法论进行概述,使读者了解VR技术如何用于研究,并作为一种替代治疗的手段,用于改善绿色基础设施的健康福祉,为VR技术的研究应用提供理论与实践基础。     

基于用户体验满意度的虚拟村寨路径规划

目的 用户在复杂环境下的虚拟村寨中游览,为了兼顾用户游览体验满意度及用户行为偏好,提出了基于用户体验满意度的路径规划方法。方法 首先,还原真实村寨的虚拟场景,对虚拟村寨进行降维处理,获取栅格化地图;然后,提出一种改进A星算法,并以地标点、用户移动轨迹、用户喜爱度等为约束条件,构建多因素影响下的虚拟村寨路径规划模型;最后,通过设计实验采集用户行为偏好数据,并由所构建模型开展约束影响权重分析,并将约束条件作为开展寻路算法的影响因素。结果 实验结果表明,该方法所规划出的路径能够有效兼容地标点、用户移动轨迹、用户喜爱度等多种约束条件。结论 路径规划结果对提升用户在虚拟村寨场景中的体验满意度具有明显优越性,能为用户沉浸式游览体验设计提供新方法。     

沉浸式虚拟现实环境下走动对场景识别的影响

采用沉浸式虚拟现实技术,在典型空间更新范式下研究：①运动对场景识别的影响;②沉浸式虚拟现实技术本身在场景识别研究中的效度。组间变量是测试视点情况（与学习视点相同和与学习视点不同）,组内变量是桌子状况（桌子静止和旋转）。因变量是正确判断物体位置改变的比率。结果发现：①视点依赖效应：在相同测试视点的识别成绩显著好于在不同测试视点条件下的识别成绩。②空间更新效应：无论不同测试视点还是在相同视点条件下,桌子静止时的识别成绩显著好于桌子转动条件下的识别成绩。③沉浸式虚拟现实环境下获得与真实环境结果一致的模式,说明沉浸式虚拟现实技术是场景识别研究中的一种十分有效的方法。     

沉浸式与非沉浸式媒介的注意力恢复作用比较

目的通过在球幕与银幕中模拟自然环境,比较两者的注意力恢复作用。探讨沉浸式媒介中虚拟自然环境的应用价值。方法挑选30名大学生,随机分成两组。施加压力进行引诱,进行注意力能力指标测量以及持续性注意力的反应测试。实验组观看球幕自然影片,对照组观看银幕自然影片,两组观看影片后再次采集注意力数据。结果两组在观看自然影像后,注意力皆得到恢复,球幕组的注意力恢复效果更显著。结论较传统使用非沉浸式媒介模拟自然环境而言,利用沉浸式媒介能获得更显著的注意力恢复效果。在沉浸式媒介中,虚拟自然环境的应用实践值得深入研究。     

VR-Rides: An object-oriented application framework for immersive virtual reality exergames

Exercise can improve health and well-being. With this in mind, immersive virtual reality (VR) games are being developed to promote physical activity, and are generally evaluated through user studies. However, building such applications is time consuming and expensive. This paper introduces VR-Rides, an object-oriented application framework focused on the development of experiment-oriented VR exergames. Following the modular programming pattern, this framework facilitates the integration of different hardware (such as VR devices, sensors, and physical activity devices) within immersive VR experiences that overlay game narratives on Google Street View panoramas. Combining software engineering and interaction patterns, modules of VR-Rides can be easily added and managed in the Unity game engine. We evaluate the code efficiency and development effort across our VR exergames developed using VR-Rides. The reliability, maintainability, and usability of our framework are also demonstrated via code metrics analysis and user studies. The results show that investing in a systematic approach to reusing code and design can be a worthwhile effort for researchers beyond software engineering.     

An effective FoV restriction approach to mitigate VR sickness on mobile devices

It has been noted that restricting field of view (FoV) is effective to mitigate virtual reality (VR) sickness, but it is prone to reduce the immersiveness. We propose an effective FoV restriction approach to mitigate VR sickness on mobile devices. The proposed approach includes a practical and reliable method for measuring VR sickness and a method of effectively limiting the FoV on mobile VR devices. Experimental result shows that the proposed method reduces VR sickness by 31.4%. The method was successfully applied to a VR application.     

Domes and creativity: a historical exploration

This article examines the deeper history of the dome-as-venue and considers what contemporary fulldome artists could learn from the past. It also looks at antecedents found in the work of the artists who sought to unify sound and image in special performance spaces, and how their holistic conception of ‘art’ involving all the senses might be applied to fulldome work.     

A context-aware ubiquitous learning environment for language listening and speaking

This paper reported the results of a study that aimed to construct a sensor and handheld augmented reality (AR)-supported ubiquitous learning (u-learning) environment called the Handheld English Language Learning Organization (HELLO), which is geared towards enhancing students' language learning. The HELLO integrates sensors, AR, ubiquitous computing and information technologies. It is composed of two subsystems: an English learning management system and a u-learning tool. In order to evaluate the effects of the proposed learning environment on the learning performance of students, a case study on English learning was conducted on a school campus. The participants included high school teachers and students. A learning course entitled 'My Campus' was conducted in the class; it included three activities, namely 'Campus Environment', 'Campus Life' and 'Campus Story'. The evaluation results showed that the proposed HELLO and the learning activities could improve the students' English listening and speaking skills.     

Construction safety training using immersive virtual reality

Construction workers’ ability to identify and assess risks is acquired through training and experience and is among the key factors that determine their behaviour and thus their safety. Yet researchers have questioned the effectiveness of conventional safety training. This research tested the hypotheses that safety training in a virtual reality (VR) construction site would be feasible and more effective, in terms of workers’ learning and recall in identifying and assessing construction safety risks, than would equivalent training using conventional methods. Sixty-six subjects were provided training in construction safety and their safety knowledge was tested prior to the training, immediately afterward, and one month later. Half of the subjects received traditional classroom training with visual aids; the other half were trained using a 3D immersive VR power-wall. Significant advantage was found for VR training for stone cladding work and for cast-in-situ concrete work, but not for general site safety. VR training was more effective in terms of maintaining trainees’ attention and concentration. Training with VR was more effective over time, especially in the context of cast-in-situ concrete works. Given the need for improved training and the advantages of training using VR, incorporation of VR in construction safety training is strongly recommended.