Presence Within a Mixed Reality Environment

Abstract

Mixed reality environments represent a new approach to creating technology-mediated experiences. However, there is a lack of empirical research investigating users' actual experience. The aim of the current exploratory, non-experimental study was to establish levels of and identify factors associated with presence, within the framework of Schubert et al.'s model of presence. Using questionnaire and interview methods, the experience of the final performance of the Desert Rain mixed reality environment was investigated. Levels of general and spatial presence were relatively high, but levels of involvement and realness were not. Overall, intrinsic motivation, confidence and intention to re-visit Desert Rain were high. However, age was negatively associated with both spatial presence and confidence to play. Furthermore, various problems in navigating the environment were identified. Results are discussed in terms of Schubert's model and other theoretical perspectives. Implications for system design are presented.

A multilevel longitudinal study of experiencing virtual presence in adolescence: the role of anxiety and openness to experience in the classroom

“…With respect to adolescents, the results of the present study tend to coalesce in showing a negative relationship between presence and age (Bangay & Preston, 1998;Van Schaik et al, 2004). According to Bangay and Preston (1998), decreased excitement in response to the virtual context explains the change with age that was observed over the 10-20 year period.…”

“…In one early study, adult users (aged 35 and 45 years) were less likely to experience presence than children and adolescents aged 10 to 20 years (Bangay & Preston, 1998). Similarly, Van Schaik and colleagues reported a negative correlation between spatial presence and age, in a sample that ranged roughly from 16 to 50 years (14% < 16 years, 43% = 17-30 years, 24% =30-45 years, and 19% >45 years) (Van Schaik, Turnbull, Wersch & Drummond, 2004). On the other hand, at least one experimental study with a sample ranging from 18 to 62 years of age demonstrated that older individuals reported higher presence (Schuemie et al, 2005).…”

“…According to Bangay and Preston (1998), decreased excitement in response to the virtual context explains the change with age that was observed over the 10-20 year period. By comparison, lower computer confidence and more usability problems among older adults explained much of the variation over the 16-50 year period (Van Schaik et al, 2004). In a comprehensive literature review, reductions in presence over adulthood were attributed to a decline in information processing speed and attentional allocation that occur with aging (Sacau, Laarni & Hartmann, 2008).…”

Immersion in Mediated Environments: The Role of Personality Traits

“…9(p.2258) In addition, presence seems to be positively related to creative imagination, empathy, absorption, willingness to be transported, tendency to escape, locus of control, and dissociation [10][11][12] and negatively correlated with age. 13 In their review, Sacau et al 9 conclude that personalityrelated variables influence sensations of presence. To date, however, the impact of the five core personality traits on immersion has not yet been investigated.…”

Effect of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain Perception during Dental Treatment in Children

“…These results are also in keeping with studies carried out in medical literature, where VR glasses have been used as a distraction to overcome pain, fear, and anxiety in a number of treatment procedures, such as treatment of burn care, chemotherapy, traumatic injuries, injection or blood sampling, and physiotherapy. [10][11][12][13][14][15] The effect of VR distraction in decreasing perceived pain and anxiety can be attributed to a number of reasons. The application of VR distraction is based on the assumption that pain perception has a large psychological component and that pain attracts a strong attentive response because of the potential threat of damaged tissue associated with the sensation.…”