Affective Virtual Reality: How to Design Artificial Experiences Impacting Human Emotions

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Affective Computing
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) traditionally focuses on visual simulation but aims for multisensory engagement.
• VR's multisensory capabilities enable users to feel present and interact within virtual environments.
• There is increasing interest in leveraging VR for emotional stimulation, encompassing both positive and negative emotions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss current possibilities and author experiences in eliciting emotions through VR.
• To explore how specific design aspects and features contribute to affective VR experiences.
• To raise awareness about the extensive design space VR offers for emotional experiences compared to traditional media.

Main Methods:

• Review of current VR technologies and design principles for emotional engagement.
• Analysis of author-collected data and experiences in developing affective VR applications.
• Exploration of design features and their impact on user emotional responses.

Main Results:

• VR can effectively stimulate emotions by engaging multiple senses.
• Specific design choices significantly influence the affective impact of VR experiences.
• The potential for VR to create impactful emotional experiences comparable to real life is substantial.

Conclusions:

• VR offers a unique platform for developing rich affective experiences beyond traditional media.
• Further exploration of VR's design space is necessary to fully harness its emotional potential.
• Affective VR applications hold promise for improving quality of life through emotional enhancement.