Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments?
Research on attention restoration theory has provided consistent results over the years, and exposure to nature has been found to significantly improve and restore directed attention fatigue. However, rapid urbanisation has made it increasingly difficult for human beings to interact with unpolluted...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | J |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/5/3/23 |
| _version_ | 1797486752370262016 |
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| author | Denise Dillon Jiaying Cai |
| author_facet | Denise Dillon Jiaying Cai |
| author_sort | Denise Dillon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on attention restoration theory has provided consistent results over the years, and exposure to nature has been found to significantly improve and restore directed attention fatigue. However, rapid urbanisation has made it increasingly difficult for human beings to interact with unpolluted nature. Countries such as Singapore began to integrate nature into city planning and into the designs of buildings to help resident satisfaction and well-being. Local studies have had contradictory outcomes; residents report significantly higher restoration and affect towards vertical integrated greeneries, but many would still prefer traditional on-the-ground foliage. Interest in outdoor greenspaces is variable because Singapore’s high heat and humid climate make it uncomfortable to interact with outside nature for prolonged periods. The current study tested alternative modalities that can provide residents with on-the-ground foliage interactions, without the discomfort of being outdoors. Virtual exposures with different levels of immersion (high and low) and types of scenes (nature and urban) were tested for effects on perceived presence, perceived restoration and objective restoration. A total of 120 adult participants completed the study, which revealed that a virtual reality-nature condition provided significantly superior directed attention restoration and higher presence ratings. Immersive tendency did not affect perceived presence; neither did it moderate the relationship between perceived presence and its corresponding perceived restoration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:37:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2faaa4d209774f709bd48744e0787d07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8800 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:37:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | J |
| spelling | doaj.art-2faaa4d209774f709bd48744e0787d072023-11-23T16:56:59ZengMDPI AGJ2571-88002022-08-015333435710.3390/j5030023Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments?Denise Dillon0Jiaying Cai1School of Social and Health Sciences, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, SingaporeSchool of Social and Health Sciences, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, SingaporeResearch on attention restoration theory has provided consistent results over the years, and exposure to nature has been found to significantly improve and restore directed attention fatigue. However, rapid urbanisation has made it increasingly difficult for human beings to interact with unpolluted nature. Countries such as Singapore began to integrate nature into city planning and into the designs of buildings to help resident satisfaction and well-being. Local studies have had contradictory outcomes; residents report significantly higher restoration and affect towards vertical integrated greeneries, but many would still prefer traditional on-the-ground foliage. Interest in outdoor greenspaces is variable because Singapore’s high heat and humid climate make it uncomfortable to interact with outside nature for prolonged periods. The current study tested alternative modalities that can provide residents with on-the-ground foliage interactions, without the discomfort of being outdoors. Virtual exposures with different levels of immersion (high and low) and types of scenes (nature and urban) were tested for effects on perceived presence, perceived restoration and objective restoration. A total of 120 adult participants completed the study, which revealed that a virtual reality-nature condition provided significantly superior directed attention restoration and higher presence ratings. Immersive tendency did not affect perceived presence; neither did it moderate the relationship between perceived presence and its corresponding perceived restoration.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/5/3/23attention restoration theorydirected attention fatiguevirtual realityimmersive tendencyperceived presence |
| spellingShingle | Denise Dillon Jiaying Cai Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? J attention restoration theory directed attention fatigue virtual reality immersive tendency perceived presence |
| title | Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? |
| title_full | Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? |
| title_fullStr | Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? |
| title_short | Virtual Reality Greenspaces: Does Level of Immersion Affect Directed Attention Restoration in VR Environments? |
| title_sort | virtual reality greenspaces does level of immersion affect directed attention restoration in vr environments |
| topic | attention restoration theory directed attention fatigue virtual reality immersive tendency perceived presence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/5/3/23 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT denisedillon virtualrealitygreenspacesdoeslevelofimmersionaffectdirectedattentionrestorationinvrenvironments AT jiayingcai virtualrealitygreenspacesdoeslevelofimmersionaffectdirectedattentionrestorationinvrenvironments |