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Olfactory Perception and Presence in a Virtual Reality Food Environment
Susan Persky1, Alexander P Dolwick1
1Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Frontiers in Virtual Reality
|August 28, 2023
Summary
Scent in virtual reality (VR) enhances user experience, but perception varies. Identifying smells in VR boosts presence and food choices, indicating potential for olfactory stimuli in immersive applications.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Sensory Perception
- Virtual Reality Technology
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) effectiveness relies on user immersion and presence.
- Olfactory stimuli integration into VR environments is underexplored for enhancing realism.
- Understanding scent perception is crucial for optimizing VR user experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of olfactory stimuli on user experience in a VR buffet restaurant.
- To determine the relationship between scent perception, presence, and user choices within VR.
- To explore factors influencing olfactory perception in virtual environments.
Main Methods:
- Participants interacted within a VR buffet restaurant environment.
- French fry scented oil was administered during the VR experience.
- Post-experience surveys assessed scent perception, identification accuracy, presence, and food choices.
Main Results:
- Only 18% of participants perceived the olfactory stimulus (french fry scent).
- Of those who perceived the scent, 78% correctly identified it.
- Perceiving the scent correlated with higher VR presence; correct identification correlated with heightened presence and increased french fry selection.
Conclusions:
- Scent perception in VR is highly variable and influences user experience.
- Correct olfactory identification in VR can enhance presence and guide user behavior.
- Further research is needed to understand moderators of olfactory perception in virtual reality.
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