Articles tagged with Virtual Reality
Researchers found that playing games in virtual reality creates a 'time compression' effect, where players perceive less time passing than they think. This was observed among participants who played the game first in virtual reality, and could have implications for both benefits and harms of VR technology.
The Locomotion Vault project provides a central, freely-available resource to analyze various virtual reality locomotion techniques. Researchers and developers can use the interactive database to inform decisions about the best approach for their application, while also identifying gaps where future investigation might be necessary.
Research shows virtual humans can effectively support leadership skill practice, with statistically significant improvements seen in mixed reality settings. The study suggests that VR and MR technologies offer a wide range of applications for training, including addressing drawbacks to traditional methods.
A study by PLOS ONE found that virtual reality training with augmented multisensory cues improves user experience during training and task performance in the real world. The findings suggest that this technology can be a valuable tool for teaching essential skills like car maintenance.
Researchers found that virtual reality can reduce types of pain typically seen in patients with nerve injuries, including prickling and touch-related pain. The study also showed that VR can boost the body's natural pain inhibiting process by enhancing conditioned pain modulation.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that immersive VR videos of art and natural scenes elicit similar levels of 'the sublime', but with distinct sub-dimensions. Nature-based videos evoked a greater sense of vastness, existential danger, fear, and positive affect compared to art-based videos.
The US Navy is developing a virtual reality personality assessment tool to improve recruitment and selection processes. The Manpower and Personnel Assessment Battery (MPAB) will use virtual reality technology, physiological markers, and real-time data analytics to assess applicants' skills and personalities.
A review of 149 articles on VR in education found that basic science, social science, and health/medicine were the most popular disciplines. VR interventions had a medium effect on learning, with disciplinary design and level of immersion influencing this effect.
A new virtual reality program has been shown to reduce the physical side effects of hemodialysis in patients, such as fatigue and nausea. The program, which involves a mindfulness/meditation exercise, was found to greatly improve symptoms in patients who used it during their treatment sessions.
A virtual reality app called Easyheights has been shown to improve ability to handle real height situations, with participants able to ascend further towards the top than before training. The app uses 360° images and gradually increases perceived distance without increasing fear levels.
A new virtual reality cognitive assessment has been developed by Center for BrainHealth researchers, effectively testing executive function in everyday tasks. The study found that participants' performance is not related to their working memory capacity, but rather on their strategies and approaches.
A new study found that one in seven players still reported VR sickness 40 minutes after playing popular VR exergames like Beat Saber. Researchers caution gamers to exercise caution and wait for symptoms before engaging in higher-risk activities.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has developed a two-millimeter achromatic metalens that can focus RGB colors without aberrations, opening a path to new virtual reality platforms. The lens uses nanostructures to focus light and is the largest RGB-achromatic metalens to date.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a VR-based method to increase bodily awareness and improve motor control. The study found that artificial manipulation of agency enhances the effectiveness of rehabilitation and aid sports training techniques.
Dr. Helen Genova will lead a three-year randomized controlled trial using virtual reality job training to improve social competency skills for individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, aiming to increase employment outcomes. The study is the first to use this program in this population.
Researchers found that immersive virtual reality can reduce implicit racial bias when participants experience a neutral or positive social situation. However, a negative environment can lead to increased biases and decreased body ownership, suggesting caution in using VR as an empathy machine.
Researchers developed a wearable device called Biomechanics Sensor Node that captures user data and controls virtual environments. The system stimulates sensory systems, especially sight and hearing, to intensify central nervous system information input and output.
A UOC project has developed a 3D virtual environment to train surgeons' psychomotor skills, providing real-time feedback and metrics. The tool has been tested with over 148 users, showing its validity in improving surgeons' performance at different stages of their careers.
A study published in iScience explores the behavior of humans controlling a shared avatar in virtual reality. The research found that participants exhibited superior reaction times and more straight movements with the shared avatar compared to individual control.
Watching high-quality nature programs on TV can uplift moods and reduce negative emotions, while experiencing virtual reality nature can lead to increased positive feelings and a stronger connection to the natural world. The study found that interactive VR experiences had the most significant benefits.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed vLUME, a virtual reality software that allows for the visualization and analysis of complex biological data. This enables faster testing and analysis, leading to new discoveries and insights into fundamental problems in biology.
Researchers developed a new gaming platform to improve rehabilitation for stroke survivors with hemispatial neglect. The platform, 'c-SIGHT', uses videogame technology to engage patients and track progress.
The LEARNER project features a mixed-reality learning environment with physical, augmented, and virtual reality components to augment responders' capabilities. The platform aims to increase the speed of integration and adoption of human augmentation technologies in emergency response and other industrial sectors.
A recent study found that immersive virtual reality and slow breathing techniques can help promote bedtime relaxation and improve overall sleep quality in adolescents. The study revealed an average reduction of 6 minutes in sleep latency and a 3% increase in sleep efficiency among participants.
A new VR experience, Beyond the Ice, brings Hallett Cove's fossilized landscape to life with immersive 3D detail. Users can identify fossils, measure glacial grooves and draw rock folds using virtual tools.
Researchers developed a low-cost, customizable VR system to study animal behavior using freely moving small animals. The system, called PiVR, enables the delivery of virtual realities in real-time, allowing scientists to examine causal relationships between neural activity and specific behaviors.
A virtual reality simulator will be developed to improve hiatal hernia surgery training, reducing surgical errors and improving outcomes. The study aims to utilize the simulator to hone skills in a standardized environment.
GingerVR, an open-source Unity tool kit, tackles cybersickness in VR and AR environments. Researchers found that the software implements eight reduction techniques to address individual differences in user symptoms.
A team at the University of Bath has developed Touche, a data-driven computer model that generates responsive animations against attacks and eliminates non-reactive behavior from characters. This framework simplifies the necessary technical work to achieve a convincing simulation, resulting in more realistic results for game developers.
Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology are developing a virtual reality-based rehabilitation strategy for stroke patients with cortically induced blindness. The approach utilizes eye-tracking technology and multisensory exercises to help patients regain lost portions of their visual field.
Researchers found that people are often unaware of color removal from their visual periphery in virtual reality, suggesting limitations to human color awareness. The studies used 178 participants and revealed that peripheral color detection is less accurate than previously believed.
Flying insects integrate visual, olfactory, and aerodynamic cues to locate objects in 3D space. Research using virtual reality revealed that Dipteran species use depth cues, wind tunnel-like airflow fields, and odor information to navigate.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University developed a massive fluid dynamics simulator to model blood flow through the full human arterial system, providing guidance for treatment plans. A new graphical user interface called Harvis allows clinicians to easily explore options without expertise in computer science.
UCF professor Maria Harrington receives a grant from Epic Games to develop cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology. The project aims to create photorealistic models of botanical gardens and university arboretums, providing users with detailed information about plants and ecosystems.
Anesthesiologists in Israel used 3D printing and virtual reality to create a personalized airway plan for a 7-year-old girl undergoing lung surgery. The plan reduced trial and error during the operation, allowing for a successful outcome.
A new device developed at Carnegie Mellon University uses multiple strings attached to the hand and fingers to simulate the feel of obstacles and heavy objects in virtual reality. The device provides more realistic haptic feedback than other techniques, enabling users to feel the contours of virtual objects and sense resistance.
Researchers warn of the risks of virtual and augmented reality becoming increasingly realistic, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between reality and virtual experiences. This can result in problems such as remembering virtual events as real and failing to distinguish between actual and simulated events. The study also highligh...
New research uses virtual reality to increase identification with others by activating brain networks, aiding in treatment of violent offenders. The technology also helps improve understanding and relationships by simulating multi-sensory feedback.
A new Cornell University study found that students with more video game experience learned better using VR than those with little experience, with males showing greater advantage. The study suggests that either prior video game experience or gender may impact the success of VR-based learning.
Researchers found that people's prior beliefs about themselves may prevent accurate judgment of real appearance. By viewing their body from a third-person perspective, individuals rated it more attractively, pointing to potential applications for treating body perception disorders.
Researchers are exploring enzymes' essential features to convert abundant raw materials into usable fuel. PNNL scientists designed an artificial enzyme that converts carbon dioxide to formate, a potential kind of fuel.
A study found that emotionally evocative storylines can reduce virtual reality cybersickness, especially in non-gamers, by enhancing presence and decreasing sensory conflicts. The findings suggest that game design can be used to create more inclusive VR experiences.
A new study in Frontiers in Neuroscience used virtual reality to determine how people plan their movements by
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology discovered that active virtual reality (VR) experiences hinder visual memory more than passive ones. This finding challenges the potential use of VR as an educational tool, highlighting the need for teaching materials that account for its characteristics.
A recent OSU study assesses virtual reality movements' effects on muscle strain and discomfort, focusing on neck and shoulder movements. The study recommends placing objects closer to the body and at eye level to minimize user discomfort.
Researchers used a combination of VR, aerial thermal-imaging, and ground surveys to develop a statistical model for predicting koala locations. The three-pronged approach proved 75% more accurate than ground surveys alone, providing critical information for koala protection.
Researchers used virtual reality to study how opioid-associated memories are made and found special neural mechanisms engaged by drug use. The findings suggest that these memories could be targeted for disruption to break the cycle of craving and relapse.
A new study suggests that immersive virtual reality can increase the acceptance of flu vaccinations among adults aged 18-49. The research found that participants who experienced a five-minute virtual reality simulation showed increased concern about transmitting flu to others and were more confident in the effectiveness of vaccination.
Scientists from Skoltech ADASE lab have developed a method to enhance depth map resolution, enabling more realistic virtual reality and computer graphics. The new approach leverages human perception to assess reconstruction quality, outperforming existing methods in visual quality.
A virtual reality clinic created by researchers at North Carolina State University makes it easier for stroke survivors to attend physical and occupational therapy sessions. The system, called VERGE, encourages participants to work on therapy exercises with loved ones remotely, leading to increased attendance and engagement.
A McMaster University study found that virtual and mixed reality inferior to traditional physical models for anatomy learning. The research showed a 70% increase in accuracy with traditional physical models compared to digital media.
Researchers found that fruit flies can build and update mental maps of their surroundings by linking visual features to compass neurons, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. This flexible mapping ability has implications for how other animals navigate in the wild and may even influence human navigation.
A randomized trial at a music festival in the Netherlands found that virtual reality (VR) training was comparable to traditional hands-on training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. The study, which enrolled 381 participants, showed improved results for speed and depth of compressions in both groups.
A small study published in Pain Reports found that immersive VR scenes of Arctic exploration can reduce perceived ongoing pain and sensitivity to painful stimuli. The researchers believe that VR may trigger the body's own pain-fighting systems, leading to a decrease in chronic pain symptoms.
A new study found that a virtual reality platform can facilitate interprofessional education in palliative care, improving student attitudes towards other healthcare professionals. Students reported increased empathy and interest in continuing IPE training after the experience.
Researchers at the University of Würzburg are developing a new therapy approach using virtual reality avatars to combat obesity. The avatars aim to provide a realistic body image, promoting acceptance and self-reflection in patients struggling with the condition.
A study published in Neuron found that brain areas and patterns of interaction are similar regardless of navigation method, suggesting that sufficient information can be obtained from visual cues alone. The research suggests that even basic virtual reality systems may be useful in instructional applications.
Researchers found that viewing memories in the third person reduces vividness and emotion, while recalling experiences in the first person strengthens memory. Virtual reality technology is being used to explore how perspective influences memory formation.
A randomized trial of 120 hospital patients found that virtual reality (VR) sessions significantly reduced severe pain scores compared to a relaxation program on TV. Patients who used VR reported higher satisfaction with the experience and no difference in opioid prescribing.
A new study from McGill University uses machine learning-guided virtual reality simulators to accurately assess the capabilities of neurosurgeons. The researchers found that these AI-powered tools can predict the level of expertise with 90% accuracy, enabling more efficient and effective mentorship.