Interacting with virtual characters, objects and environments: investigating immersive virtual reality in...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Immersive virtual reality (VR) offers potential for innovative rehabilitation strategies.
• Investigating user interaction within virtual environments is crucial for developing effective VR applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore opportunities for VR in communication, physical, and visual rehabilitation.
• To examine the interaction of individuals without disabilities in structured virtual environments.
• To validate research protocols for evaluating user interaction and safety in VR.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen adults without disabilities participated in the study.
• Participants used VR via a head-mounted display in structured virtual environments.
• A video-review method was employed for qualitative analysis of communication, movement, and orientation.

Main Results:

• Participants successfully oriented themselves and interacted within virtual environments.
• Spoken language was effective for interaction, though some unconventional social behaviors were noted.
• Two participants experienced mild cybersickness, indicating a need for safety monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer insights into virtual environment design for optimal communicative, physical, and visual interaction.
• Validated protocols can assess VR safety and user interaction in virtual settings.
• Results inform future research and the application of VR for individuals with disabilities.