Evaluating virtual reality work environments: cognitive and physiological impacts on office workers

As travel becomes integral to modern life, many workers complete office tasks in non-traditional settings using small screens, which may hinder productivity and well-being. Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential solution. This study (n = 20) examined the effects of VR work environments on cognitive performance, physiological responses, and subjective ratings. Participants completed cognitive tasks in both VR and physical environments. While most performance measures showed no significant differences, reaction tasks were slightly better in the physical setup. However, VR yielded better electroencephalogram and subjective outcomes. To enhance ecological validity, a subset of participants repeated the VR condition in a campus cafeteria. Their performance, physiological, and subjective responses remained consistent with lab results. These findings suggest VR can effectively support office tasks in non-traditional environments, maintaining cognitive and physiological performance while improving user experience.