Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Enhance Social Interaction Among Older Adults: A Cross-Site Investigation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) applications are increasingly designed for older adults to maintain physical and cognitive skills.
• Research on older adults' interaction with VR is limited due to its emerging nature.
• The study investigated older adults' reactions to a social-VR environment, focusing on interaction, mood, and environmental features.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine older adults' views on meaningful interactions within a social-VR setting.
• To assess the impact of social-VR immersion on mood and attitude in older adults.
• To identify specific VR features influencing user experience and outcomes for seniors.

Main Methods:

• A novel social-VR environment was developed to encourage conversation and collaboration.
• Participants (36 individuals aged 60+) were recruited from three diverse US locations.
• Participants were randomly paired with a partner from a different geographic site for VR interaction.

Main Results:

• Older adults reported positive reactions, high engagement, and perceived social VR as enjoyable and usable.
• Perceived spatial presence was a key factor driving positive outcomes in the social-VR environment.
• Participants expressed willingness for future VR interactions, while suggesting improvements like realistic avatars and better controllers.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality presents a viable and effective platform for fostering social engagement among the older adult population.
• The study highlights the potential of VR to combat social isolation in seniors.
• Further development should consider user feedback for optimizing VR experiences for older adults.