The Effects of Immersion in a Virtual Reality Game: Presence and Physical Activity

Yao, Shengjie; Kim, Gyoung

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-22602-2_18

Cited by 30 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The research results quoted suggest that during training in a virtual environment, obese children are likely to perform intense exercise, forgetting about the discomfort that may accompany such exercise. Furthermore, increased physical exercise performance in IVR was linked by Yao and Kim [51] with high psychological arousal of players and their level of presence during the game. The authors examined young adults playing a stationary cycling video game on a cycle ergometer based on two levels of immersion (flat screen vs. HMD).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Be Attractive and Have Sufficient Intensity to Meet Health Recommendations for Obese Children? A Pilot Study

Polechoński

Nierwińska

Kalita³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is a technology that blurs the line between the physical world and a digital environment. Using appropriate pointing devices, it is possible to engage in physical activity (PA). The main aim of the study was to assess the attractiveness and intensity of physical exercise while playing active video games (AVGs) in IVR on an omnidirectional treadmill by obese children and to present the results compared to health recommendations (PA). It was also assessed whether the AVGs storyline can effectively motivate the participants to undertake locomotor activity by increasing the intensity of their effort (moving in a limited space vs. having to follow a set route). Eleven children aged 8 to 12 years with diagnosed obesity participated in the experiment. The attractiveness of PA was assessed with a questionnaire, while the intensity of exercise was estimated on the basis of heart rate. The answers show that AVGs are attractive and more enjoyable for the respondents than conventional video games. All participants declared their willingness to practice this form of PA. The intensity of PA of obese children during two games was high but during the game where the player was supposed to follow a set route, it was significantly higher (83.3 ± 9.2% HRmax) than during the game whose storyline assumed moving in a limited space (77.4 ± 9.8% HRmax). Due to the high intensity of PA while playing the AVGs studied, it can be assumed that obese children can benefit for their health if the games are used on a regular basis. However, further research is needed to verify this thesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Be Attractive and Have Sufficient Intensity to Meet Health Recommendations for Obese Children? A Pilot Study

Polechoński

Nierwińska

Kalita³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…The more senses a system stimulates, the more it enables individuals to construct their own internal mental models of reality; the higher the levels of sensory fidelity a virtual space provides, the more similar to those real-world senses they become. Yao and Kim (2019) revealed that interactive virtual reality exercising games with multisensory stimulation led to a higher level of presence, psychological arousal and physical exercising performance.…”

Section: Key Features Of Immersionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding immersion in 2D platform-based online collaborative learning environments

Garcia

Jung

2020

AJET

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Previous studies have revealed that when video gamers, or users of three-dimensional (3D) virtual worlds, display intense concentration coupled with an emotional engagement in their undertaking, they are affected by multisensory stimuli. This can lead to developing a feeling of detachment from the physical world, which, in turn, can lead to high levels of participation and engagement. Notwithstanding these results, it remains unclear as to whether students can experience the same kind of immersion in two-dimensional (2D) platform-based online collaborative learning spaces as has been achieved in video games and 3D worlds and, if they actually can, which features would lead to similar levels of increased engagement. This study is one of the first attempts to investigate the immersion experiences of students engaged in two 2D online collaborative learning platforms, one text-based and the other video-based. Data from eight students revealed that key features of immersion observed in video games and 3D worlds also appeared during the online collaborative activities but that the way such immersion was perceived by the students was greatly affected by the characteristics of the individual platform. When emotional engagement was considered, empathy was found to play an important role in the participants’ immersion experiences. Implications for practice or policy: Text-based platforms could be effective in motivating students to focus more on the postings, while video-based platforms may be more effective in generating empathy with others through observation of body language. When selecting a communication platform for online collaboration, sensory stimuli of the platform should be carefully examined. Empathy could be developed prior to an online collaborative activity so that students reflect on their thoughts and consider others’ feelings for a more immersive learning experience.

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“…Consequently, VR technology is increasingly being used in various areas of life and science, including health care, rehabilitation, psychology, education, engineering, manufacturing, and entertainment [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The development of information technology and the ever-increasing popularity of video games are often associated with the reduction of a person's physical activity (PA) in favor of prolonged sitting in front of a computer, resulting in poor well-being and progressive deterioration in the physical and mental health status [11][12][13][14] Therefore, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in active virtual reality games (AVRGs), which provide entertainment and encourage PA [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. AVRGs are video games that require users to perform physical exercise [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Handheld Weights as an Effective and Comfortable Way To Increase Exercise Intensity of Physical Activity in Virtual Reality: Empirical Study

Polechoński¹,

Zwierzchowska²,

Makioła³

et al. 2022

JMIR Serious Games

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Background In recent years, there has been a growing interest in active virtual reality games (AVRGs) that provide entertainment and encourage more physical activity (PA). Since playing AVRGs involves primarily arm movements, the intensity of this form of PA may not be sufficient for health benefits. Therefore, it is worth looking for virtual entertainment solutions that are comfortable for users and at the same time increase physical exercise. Objective The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of external loading of the arms in the form of handheld weights (HHWs) on exercise intensity in users playing a popular AVRG. The results obtained in the study were compared with the PA recommendations for health. The study also assessed the perceptions of the users about the attractiveness and usefulness of this type of exercise and discomfort caused by additional load on the arms. Methods The study covered 17 young adults aged 18 to 25 years playing an AVRG (Beat Saber) with no arm load and with HHWs (0.5 kg). A PlayStation 4 PRO console (Sony) with accessories including a head-mounted display and controllers was used in the study. PA intensity was evaluated using a heart rate monitor based on the percentage of maximal heart rate (% HRmax). The usability, attractiveness, and comfort perceived during exercise by users were evaluated using a survey questionnaire. Results The measurements showed that the mean % HRmax in participants playing Beat Saber without HHWs was significantly lower (P<.001; Cohen d=1.07) than that observed when playing with HHWs. It should be emphasized that with no additional load, the intensity of PA was low (mean 63.7% HRmax, SD 9.3% HRmax), while with the upper limb load, it increased to a moderate level (mean 67.1% HRmax, SD 10.3% HRmax), which is recommended for health benefits. The survey conducted in the study showed that HHWs (0.5 kg) attached to the wrists did not disturb Beat Saber players. Conclusions Since PA in most of the modern AVRGs primarily involves upper limb movements, the use of HHW seems to be a simple and effective way to increase exercise intensity, especially because, as reported by the study participants, such a procedure does not cause discomfort while using the application.

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The Effects of Immersion in a Virtual Reality Game: Presence and Physical Activity

Cited by 30 publications

References 17 publications

Can Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Be Attractive and Have Sufficient Intensity to Meet Health Recommendations for Obese Children? A Pilot Study

Can Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Be Attractive and Have Sufficient Intensity to Meet Health Recommendations for Obese Children? A Pilot Study

Understanding immersion in 2D platform-based online collaborative learning environments

Handheld Weights as an Effective and Comfortable Way To Increase Exercise Intensity of Physical Activity in Virtual Reality: Empirical Study

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