View source for Immersion (virtual reality)

{{Short description|Perception of being physically present in a non-physical world}}
[[File:ManusVR Glove 2016.png|thumb|A woman using the Manus VR glove development kit in 2016]]

'''Immersion''' into [[Virtual reality|virtual reality]] (VR) is a perception of being physically [[Presence (telepresence)|present]] in a non-physical world. The perception is created by surrounding the user of the VR system in images, sound or other [[Philosophy:Stimulation|stimuli]] that provide an engrossing total environment.

==Etymology==
The name is a metaphoric use of the experience of submersion applied to representation, fiction or simulation. Immersion can also be defined as the state of consciousness where a "visitor" (Maurice Benayoun) or "immersant" ([[Biography:Char Davies|Char Davies]])'s awareness of physical self is transformed by being surrounded in an artificial environment; used for describing partial or complete [[Social:Suspension of disbelief|suspension of disbelief]], enabling action or reaction to stimulations encountered in a virtual or artistic environment. The greater the suspension of disbelief, the greater the degree of presence achieved.

== Types ==
According to Ernest W. Adams,<ref name=ernest>{{cite web | last =Adams | first =Ernest | title =Postmodernism and the Three Types of Immersion | publisher =Gamasutra | date =July 9, 2004 | url =http://designersnotebook.com/Columns/063_Postmodernism/063_postmodernism.htm | access-date =2007-12-26 | url-status =live | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071024225651/http://www.designersnotebook.com/Columns/063_Postmodernism/063_postmodernism.htm | archive-date =October 24, 2007 }}</ref> immersion can be separated into three main categories:

* '''Tactical immersion''': Tactical immersion is experienced when performing tactile operations that involve skill. Players feel "in the zone" while perfecting actions that result in success.
* '''Strategic immersion''': Strategic immersion is more cerebral, and is associated with mental challenge. Chess players experience strategic immersion when choosing a correct solution among a broad array of possibilities.
* '''Narrative immersion''': Narrative immersion occurs when players become invested in a story, and is similar to what is experienced while reading a book or watching a movie.

Staffan Björk and Jussi Holopainen, in ''Patterns In Game Design'',<ref name="bjork">{{cite book | last =Björk | first =Staffan |author2=Jussi Holopainen | title =Patterns In Game Design | publisher =Charles River Media | year =2004 | page =206 | url = {{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=IFQfyODK4wAC }} | isbn =978-1-58450-354-5 }}</ref> divide immersion into similar categories, but call them '''sensory-motoric immersion''', '''cognitive immersion''' and '''emotional immersion''', respectively. In addition to these, they add a new category: '''spatial immersion''', which occurs when a player feels the simulated world is perceptually convincing. The player feels that he or she is really "there" and that a simulated world looks and feels "real".

== Presence ==
[[File:10'000 moving cities V3, net-and-telepresence-based installation, 2015.jpg|thumb|10.000 moving cities, Marc Lee, Telepresence-Based Installation<ref>{{cite web|title=10.000 Moving Cities - Same but Different, interactive net-and-telepresence-based installation 2015|publisher=Marc Lee|url=http://marclee.io/en/10-000-moving-cities-same-but-different-vr/|access-date=2017-03-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815202950/http://marclee.io/en/10-000-moving-cities-same-but-different-vr/|archive-date=2018-08-15}}</ref>]]

Presence, a term derived from the shortening of the original "telepresence", is a phenomenon enabling people to interact with and feel connected to the world outside their physical bodies via technology. It is defined as a person's '''subjective sensation''' of being there in a scene depicted by a medium, usually virtual in nature.<ref name=barfield>{{cite book | last1=Barfield | first1=Woodrow | last2=Zeltzer | first2=David | last3=Sheridan | first3=Thomas | last4=Slater | first4=Mel | editor1-last=Barfield | editor1-first=Woodrow | editor2-last = Furness, III | editor2-first=Thomas A. | title=Virtual Environments and Advanced Interface Design | chapter=Presence and Performance Within Virtual Environments | publisher = Oxford University Press | year=1995 | page=473 | chapter-url = {{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=OLE-4j3tHi0C}} | isbn=978-0195075557}}</ref> Most designers focus on the technology used to create a high-fidelity virtual environment; however, the human factors involved in achieving a state of presence must be taken into account as well. It is the subjective perception, although generated by and/or filtered through human-made technology, that ultimately determines the successful attainment of presence.<ref name=Thornson>{{cite journal | last1=Thornson | first1=Carol | last2=Goldiez |first2=Brian | date=January 2009 | title=Predicting presence: Constructing the Tendency toward Presence Inventory |journal=International Journal of Human-Computer Studies | volume=67 | issue=1 | pages=62–78 | doi=10.1016/j.ijhcs.2008.08.006 }}</ref>

Virtual reality glasses can produce a visceral feeling of being in a simulated world, a form of spatial immersion called Presence. According to [[Company:Oculus VR|Oculus VR]], the technology requirements to achieve this visceral reaction are low-latency and precise [[Positional tracking|tracking]] of movements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/oculus-rift-dev-kit-2-now-on-sale-for-350/|title=Oculus Rift Dev Kit 2 now on sale for $350|author=Seth Rosenblatt|date=19 March 2014|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=CNET|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328041627/http://www.cnet.com/news/oculus-rift-dev-kit-2-now-on-sale-for-350/|archive-date=28 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slashgear.com/oculus-rift-dk2-hands-on-and-first-impressions-19321282/|title=Oculus Rift DK2 hands-on and first-impressions|work=SlashGear|date=19 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oculusvr.com/blog/announcing-the-oculus-rift-development-kit-2-dk2/|title=Announcing the Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 (DK2)|website=oculusvr.com|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913045405/http://www.oculusvr.com/blog/announcing-the-oculus-rift-development-kit-2-dk2/|archive-date=13 September 2014}}</ref>

Michael Abrash gave a talk on VR at Steam Dev Days in 2014.<ref name="Abrash">Abrash M. (2014). ''[http://media.steampowered.com/apps/abrashblog/Abrash%20Dev%20Days%202014.pdf What VR could, should, and almost certainly will be within two years] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320175550/http://media.steampowered.com/apps/abrashblog/Abrash%20Dev%20Days%202014.pdf |date=2014-03-20 }}''</ref> According to the VR research team at [[Company:Valve Corporation|Valve]], all of the following are needed to establish presence.

* A wide field of view (80 degrees or better)
* Adequate resolution (1080p or better)
* Low pixel persistence (3 ms or less)
* A high enough refresh rate (>60&nbsp;Hz, 95&nbsp;Hz is enough but less may be adequate)
* Global display where all pixels are illuminated simultaneously (rolling display may work with eye tracking.)
* Optics (at most two lenses per eye with trade-offs, ideal optics not practical using current technology)
* Optical calibration
* Rock-solid tracking – translation with millimeter accuracy or better, orientation with quarter degree accuracy or better, and volume of 1.5 meter or more on a side
* Low latency (20 ms motion to last photon, 25 ms may be good enough)

==Immersive media and technology==
<!---Target of redirects for Immersive media and others; changed heading and added first section, but could do with more integration--->
Immersive media is a term applied to a group of concepts,<ref name=kaplan2018>{{cite journal|author1=Kaplan-Rakowski, Regina |author2= Meseberg, Kay| date=2018| title=Immersive Media and their Future| journal=SSRN Electronic Journal| doi=10.2139/ssrn.3254392| url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328340651}}</ref> variously defined, which may have application in fields such as engineering, media, healthcare, education and retail.<ref>{{cite web | title=Immersive Media | website=Infocomm Media Development Authority | date=18 May 2022 | url=http://www.imda.gov.sg/infocomm-media-landscape/SGDigital/tech-pillars/Immersive-Media | access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref> Concepts included in immersive media are:
* Virtual reality (VR)<ref name=carter2021>{{cite web | last=Carter | first=Rebekah | title=What is Immersive Media: An Introduction | website=XR Today | date=10 May 2021 | url=https://www.xrtoday.com/mixed-reality/what-is-immersive-media-an-introduction/ | access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=kaplan2018/>
* [[Augmented reality]] (AR)<ref name=carter2021/><ref name=kaplan2018/>
* [[Mixed reality]] (MR)<ref name=carter2021/><ref name=kaplan2018/>
* [[Three-dimensional space|3D]] content<ref name=carter2021/>

=== Technology ===
[[Image:US Navy 070801-N-7676W-084 Joe Coyne, engineer research psychologist, Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), demonstrates the Infantry Immersive Trainer (IIT), one of several Virtual Training Environment projects (VIRTE).jpg|thumb|Engineer research psychologist from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) demonstrates the Infantry Immersive Trainer (IIT), one of several Virtual Training Environment projects (VIRTE).]]
[[File:Exploring the Universe in Virtual Reality.jpg|thumb|upright|A version of modern virtual reality goggles that would be used today]]

'''Immersive virtual reality''' is a technology that aims to completely immerse the user inside the computer generated world, giving the impression to the user that they have "stepped inside" the synthetic world.<ref>{{Citation|title=Immersive Virtual Reality|date=2008|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78414-4_85|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Multimedia|pages=345–346|editor-last=Furht|editor-first=Borko|place=Boston, MA|publisher=Springer US|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-0-387-78414-4_85|isbn=978-0-387-78414-4|access-date=2021-02-22 }}</ref> This is achieved by either using the technologies of [[Head-mounted display|Head-Mounted Display(HMD)]] or multiple projections. HMD allows VR to be projected right in front of the eyes and allows users to focus on it without any distraction.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-28|title=An Introduction to Immersive Technologies|url=https://www.vistaequitypartners.com/insights/an-introduction-to-immersive-technologies/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Vista Equity Partners|language=en-US}}</ref> The earliest attempts at developing immersive technology date back to the 1800s. Without these early attempts, the world of immersive technology would never have reached its advanced technological state we have today. The many elements that surround the realm of immersive technology all come together in different ways to create different types of immersive technology including virtual reality and pervasive gaming.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-02|title=Immersive Technology & Experiences {{!}} Transforming How We Do Business|url=https://www.futurevisual.com/blog/immersive-technology/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Future Visual|language=en-GB}}</ref> While immersive technology has already had an immense impact on our world, its progressive growth and development will continue to make lasting impacts among our technological culture.

====Origin====
One of the first devices that was designed to look like and function as a virtual reality headset was called a [[Stereoscope|stereoscope]]. It was invented in the 1830s during the early days of photography, and it used a slightly different image in each eye to create a kind of 3D effect.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The origins of immersive technologies|url=https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/introduction-to-virtual-reality/0/steps/98714|access-date=2021-03-22|website=FutureLearn|language=en-US}}</ref> Although as photography continued to develop in the late 1800s, stereoscopes became more and more obsolete. Immersive technology became more available to the people in 1957 when Morton Heilig invented the [[Sensorama]] cinematic experience that included speakers, fans, smell generators, and a vibrating chair to immerse the viewer in the movie.<ref name=":03"/> When one imagines the VR headsets they see today, they must give credit to The Sword of Damocles which was invented in 1968 and allowed users to connect their VR headsets to a computer rather than a camera. In 1991, Sega launched the Sega VR headset which was made for arcade/home use, but only the arcade version was released due to technical difficulties.<ref name=":03" /> Augmented reality began to rapidly develop within the 1990s when Louis Rosenberg created [[Virtual fixture|Virtual Fixtures]], which was the first fully immersive [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] system, used for the {{wipe|Air force}}. The invention enhanced operator performance of manual tasks in remote locations by using two robot controls in an exoskeleton.<ref name=":03" /> The first introduction of augmented reality displayed to a live audience was in 1998, when the NFL first displayed a virtual yellow line to represent the line of scrimmage/first down. In 1999, Hirokazu Kato developed the ARToolkit, which was an open source library for the development of AR applications. This allowed people to experiment with AR and release new and improved applications.<ref name=":03" /> Later, in 2009 Esquire's magazine was the first to use a QR code on the front of their magazine to provide additional content. Once The [[Engineering:Oculus Rift|Oculus]] came out in 2012, it revolutionized virtual reality and eventually raised 2.4 million dollars and began releasing their pre-production models to developers. [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] purchased Oculus for 2 billion dollars in 2014, which showed the world the upward trajectory of VR.<ref name=":03" /> In 2013, Google announced their plans to develop their first AR headset, [[Engineering:Google Glass|Google Glass]]. The production stopped in 2015 due to privacy concerns, but relaunched in 2017 exclusively for the enterprise. In 2016, Pokémon Go took the world by storm and became one of the most downloaded apps of all time. It was the first augmented reality game that was accessible through ones phone.

====Elements of immersive technology====
[[File:Reality_check_ESA384313.jpg|thumb|Man uses immersive technology headset and hand controls to complete the stage of a virtual reality video game.]]
A full immersive technology experience happens when all elements of sight, sound, and touch come together. A true immersive experience needs to be done with either virtual reality or augmented reality, as these two types utilize all of these elements.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sachidanand|first=Rishab|date=2019-11-20|title=Elements of a true immersive experience: comparing altered reality technologies|url=https://uxplanet.org/elements-of-a-true-immersive-experience-comparing-altered-reality-technologies-c38fec9a5461|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> Interactivity and connectivity is the entire focus of immersive technology. It is not placing someone in an entirely different environment, it is when they are virtually presented with a new environment and are given the opportunity to learn how to optimally live and interact with it.

==== Types of immersive technology ====
[[Virtual reality]] is the primary source of immersive technology that allows the user to be completely immersed in a fully digital environment that replicates another reality.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=5 Types of Immersive Technology|url=https://simplicable.com/new/immersive-technology|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Simplicable}}</ref> Users must use a headset, hand controls, and headphones in order to have a fully immersive experience where one is able to utilize movements/reflects.<ref name=":23"/> There are also pervasive games which utilize real world locations within game play.<ref name=":12" /> This is when the user's interaction on a virtual game lead to them interacting in real life. Some of these games may require users to physically meet up in order to complete stages.<ref name=":12" /> The gaming world has developed a series of popular virtual reality video games, such as ''Vader Immortal'', ''[[Software:Trover Saves the Universe|Trover Saves the Universe]]'', and ''[[Software:No Man's Sky|No Man's Sky]]''.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|last1=Hood|first1=Vic|last2=Knapp|first2=Mark|last3=February 2021|first3=Dan Griliopoulos 27|title=Best VR games 2021: the top virtual reality games to play right now|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/the-best-vr-games|access-date=2021-03-07|website=TechRadar|language=en}}</ref> The world of immersive technology has many facets that will continue to develop/expand over time.

===Immersive technology today===
Immersive technology has grown immensely in the past few decades, and is continuing to progress. VR has even been described as the learning aid of the 21st century.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|title=Elsevier Enhanced Reader|journal=Computers & Education|date = April 2020|volume = 147|page = 103778|doi = 10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103778|language=en|last1 = Radianti|first1 = Jaziar|last2 = Majchrzak|first2 = Tim A.|last3 = Fromm|first3 = Jennifer|last4 = Wohlgenannt|first4 = Isabell|s2cid = 211073617|doi-access = free|hdl = 11250/2736325|hdl-access = free}}</ref> Head mounted displays (HMD) is what allows users to get the full immersive experience. The HMD market is expected to be worth over 25 billion USD by the year 2022.<ref name=":4" /> The technologies of VR and AR received a boost in attention when Mark Zuckerberg, founder/creator of [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]], bought Oculus for 2 billion USD in 2014.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Cipresso|first1=Pietro|last2=Giglioli|first2=Irene Alice Chicchi|last3=Raya|first3=Mariano Alcañiz|last4=Riva|first4=Giuseppe|date=2018-11-06|title=The Past, Present, and Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality Research: A Network and Cluster Analysis of the Literature|journal=Frontiers in Psychology| volume=9| page=2086| doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02086| issn=1664-1078| pmc=6232426| pmid=30459681|doi-access=free}}</ref> Recently, the Oculus quest was released, which is wireless and allows users to move more freely. It costs around 400 USD which is around the same price as the previous generation headsets with cables.<ref name=":4" /> Other massive corporations such as, Sony, Samsung, HTC are also making huge investments into VR/AR.<ref name=":5" /> In regards to education, there are currently many researchers who are exploring the benefits and applications of virtual reality in the classroom.<ref name=":4" /> However, there is little systemic work that currently exists regarding how researchers have applied immersive VR for higher education purposes using HMD's.<ref name=":4" /> The most popular use of immersive technology comes in the world of video games. Completely immersing users into their favorite game, HMD's have allowed individuals to experience the realm of video games in an entirely new light.<ref name=":33">{{Cite web|last1=Hood|first1=Vic|last2=Knapp|first2=Mark|last3=February 2021|first3=Dan Griliopoulos 27|title=Best VR games 2021: the top virtual reality games to play right now|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/the-best-vr-games|access-date=2021-03-07|website=TechRadar|language=en}}</ref> Current video games such as Star Wars: Squadron, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky are giving users the ability to experience every aspect of the digital world in their game.<ref name=":33" /> While there is still a lot to learn about immersive technology and what it has to offer, it has come an entirely long way from its beginning on the early 1800s. 
[[File:Pexels-julia-m-cameron-4145251.jpg|thumb|Child discovering the applications of immersive technology through a virtual reality headset]]

===Components===
==== Perception ====
Hardware technologies are developed to stimulate one or more of the [[Philosophy:Sense|sense]]s to create perceptually real sensations. Some vision technologies are [[Engineering:3D display|3D display]]s, [[Engineering:Fulldome|fulldome]]s, [[Head-mounted display|head-mounted display]]s, and [[Holography|holography]]. Some auditory technologies are 3D audio effects, [[Physics:High-resolution audio|high-resolution audio]], and [[Surround sound|surround sound]]. [[Engineering:Haptic technology|Haptic technology]] simulates tactile responses.

==== Interaction ====
Various technologies provide the ability to interact and communicate with the virtual environment, including brain-computer interfaces, [[Gesture recognition|gesture recognition]], [[Omnidirectional treadmill|omnidirectional treadmill]]s, and [[Speech recognition|speech recognition]].

==== Software ====
Software interacts with the hardware technology to render the virtual environment and process the [[User (computing)|user]] input to provide dynamic, real-time response. To achieve this, software often integrates components of [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] and virtual worlds. This is done differently depending on the technology and environment; Whether the software needs to create a fully immersive environment or display a projection on the already existing environment the user is looking at.

===Research and development===
Many universities have programs that research and develop immersive technology. Examples are Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, USC's Computer Graphics and Immersive Technologies Lab, Iowa State Virtual Reality Applications Center, University of Buffalo's VR Lab, Teesside University's Intelligent Virtual Environments Lab, [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|Liverpool John Moores University]]'s Immersive Story Lab, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Oklahoma State University and the University of Southern California.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Banna|first=Srinivasa|title=Optical Architectures for Displays and Sensing in Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (AR, VR, MR) |chapter=MicroLED Technology for AR/VR Displays (Conference Presentation) |date=2020-04-02 |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2566410 |volume=11310|page=147|publisher=SPIE|doi=10.1117/12.2566410|isbn=978-1-5106-3387-2|s2cid=216268924}}</ref> All of these universities and more are researching the advancement of the technology along with the different uses that [[Virtual reality|VR]] could be applied to.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top and Best Universities in US for VR / AR|url=https://www.affinityvr.com/top-universities-us-fo-vr-ar/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Technology Latest News|date=10 January 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

As well universities the video game industry has received a massive boost from immersive technology specifically Augmented reality. The company Epic games known for their popular game [[Software:Fortnite|Fortnite]] generated 1.25 billion dollars in a round of investing in 2018 as they have a leading 3D development platform for AR apps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://next.reality.news/news/10-biggest-ar-investments-2018-0191870/|title=The 10 Biggest AR Investments of 2018|website=Next Reality|date=28 December 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref> The U.S. Government requests information for immersive technology development<ref>{{cite web|title=Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) RFI.|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=ce06bb8fb032199d284724495b161e3c|website=Fbo.gov|date= 2010-03-12}}</ref> and funds specific projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/11/a_virtual_world_for_amputees.php?oref=latest_posts|title=Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center funds virtual world for amputees|website=Whatsbrewin.next.gov.com|access-date=2010-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305102759/http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/11/a_virtual_world_for_amputees.php?oref=latest_posts|archive-date=2012-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> This is for implementation in government branches in the future.

===Application===
Immersive technology is applied in several areas, including [[Finance:Retail|retail]] and [[Social:E-commerce|e-commerce]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2013/04/25/immersive-experience/#uxSeL7EB5Eqq|title=Immersing Consumers in 'Immersive Experiences'|last=Petronzio|first=Matt|date=April 25, 2013|website=Mashable}}</ref> the adult industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tgdaily.com/consumer-electronics/45427-porn-industry-embraces-immersive-3d-technology|title=Porn Industry Embraces Immersive 3D technology|website=Tgdaily.com|access-date=2021-02-17|archive-date=2016-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927063506/http://www.tgdaily.com/consumer-electronics/45427-porn-industry-embraces-immersive-3d-technology|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Art|art]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mat.ucsb.edu/|title=Media Arts and Technology, UC Santa Barbara|website=Mat.ucsb.edu|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> [[Philosophy:Entertainment|entertainment]] and video games and [[Software:Interactive storytelling|interactive storytelling]], military, education,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://immersiveeducation.org/|title=Home - Immersive Education Initiative|website=Immersiveeducation.org|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://immersivelrn.org/|title=Immersive Learning Research Network|website=Immersive Learning Research Network|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> and [[Medicine:Medicine|medicine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immersivetech.org/interaction/gesture-tech/doctors-test-new-gestural-interface-during-brain-surgery|title=Doctors test new gestural interface during brain surgery|website=Immersivetech.org|access-date=2010-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621171853/http://www.immersivetech.org/interaction/gesture-tech/doctors-test-new-gestural-interface-during-brain-surgery/|archive-date=2010-06-21|url-status=dead}}</ref>  It is also growing in the Non-profit industry in fields such as disaster relief and conservation due to its ability to put a user in a situation that would elicit more of a real-world experience than just a picture giving them a stronger emotional connection to the situation they would be viewing. As immersive technology becomes more mainstream, it will likely pervade other industries. Also with the legalization of [[Biology:Cannabis|cannabis]] happening worldwide, the cannabis industry has seen a large growth in the immersive technology market to allow virtual tours of their facilities to engage potential customers and investors.

===Concerns and ethics===
The potential perils of immersive technology have often been portrayed in science fiction and entertainment. Movies such as eXistenZ, The Matrix, and the short film ''Play'' by David Kaplan and Eric Zimmerman,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=David |last2=Zimmerman |first2=Eric |title=Play |url=http://www.immersivetech.org/applications/concepts/play-by-david-kaplan-and-eric-zimmerman/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625220614/http://www.immersivetech.org/applications/concepts/play-by-david-kaplan-and-eric-zimmerman/ |archive-date=2010-06-25 |access-date=2010-03-28}}</ref> raise questions about what may happen if we are unable to distinguish the physical world from the digital world. As the world of immersive technology becomes deeper and more intense this will be a growing concern for consumers and governments alike as to how to regulate this industry. Because all these technology is immersive and therefore not taking place in real life the application and or problems that come with the developing industry are something to keep an eye on. For example, Legal systems debate on topics of [[Finance:Virtual crime|virtual crime]], and whether it is ethical to permit illegal behavior such as rape<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/sexdrive/2007/05/sexdrive_0504|title=Virtual Rape Is Traumatic, but Is It a Crime?|date=4 May 2007|website=Wired.com}}</ref> in a simulated environment, this is relative to the adult industry, [[Art|art]], [[Philosophy:Entertainment|entertainment]] and video games industries.

== Immersive virtual reality ==
[[File:CAVE Crayoland.jpg|thumb|A Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) system]]

'''Immersive virtual reality''' is a hypothetical future technology that exists today as [[Virtual reality|virtual reality]] art projects, for the most part.<ref>[[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]], ''Immersive Ideals / Critical Distances''. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 2009, pp. 367-368</ref> It consists of immersion in an [[Simulation|artificial]] environment where the user feels just as immersed as they usually feel in [[Philosophy:Everyday life|everyday life]].

=== Direct interaction of the nervous system ===
The most considered method would be to induce the sensations that made up the [[Virtual reality|virtual reality]] in the [[Biology:Nervous system|nervous system]] directly. In [[Philosophy:Functionalism (philosophy of mind)|functionalism]]/conventional [[Biology:Biology|biology]] we interact with everyday life through the nervous system. Thus we receive all input from all the senses as nerve impulses. It gives your neurons a feeling of heightened sensation. It would involve the user receiving inputs as artificially stimulated [[Biology:Nerve|nerve]] impulses, the system would receive the CNS outputs (natural nerve impulses) and process them allowing the user to interact with the virtual reality. Natural impulses between the body and [[Biology:Central nervous system|central nervous system]] would need to be prevented. This could be done by blocking out natural impulses using nanorobots which attach themselves to the brain wiring, whilst receiving the digital impulses of which describe the virtual world, which could then be sent into the wiring of the brain. A [[Feedback|feedback]] system between the user and the computer which stores the information would also be needed. Considering how much information would be required for such a system, it is likely that it would be based on hypothetical forms of computer technology.

=== Requirements ===
;Understanding of the nervous system
A comprehensive understanding of which nerve impulses correspond to which sensations, and which motor impulses correspond to which muscle contractions will be required. This will allow the correct sensations in the user, and actions in the virtual reality to occur. The [[Blue Brain Project]] is the current, most promising research with the idea of understanding how the brain works by building very large scale computer models.

;Ability to manipulate CNS

The [[Biology:Central nervous system|central nervous system]] would obviously need to be manipulated. Whilst non-invasive devices using radiation have been postulated, invasive cybernetic implants are likely to become available sooner and be more accurate.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} 
[[Engineering:Molecular nanotechnology|Molecular nanotechnology]] is likely to provide the degree of precision required and could allow the implant to be built inside the body rather than be inserted by an operation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Saha |first=Moni |date=October 2009 |title=Nanomedicine: Promising Tiny Machine for the Healthcare in Future-A Review |journal=Oman Medical Journal |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=242–247 |doi=10.5001/omj.2009.50 |issn=1999-768X |pmc=3243873 |pmid=22216376}}</ref>

;Computer hardware/software to process inputs/outputs
A very powerful computer would be necessary for processing virtual reality complex enough to be nearly indistinguishable from everyday life and interacting with central nervous system fast enough.

== Immersive digital environments ==
[[File:COSMOPOLIS.jpg|thumb|Cosmopolis, Overwriting the City (2005), Maurice Benayoun's large Virtual Reality Interactive Installation]]

An '''immersive digital environment''' is an [[Simulation|artificial]], interactive, computer-created scene or "world" within which a user can immerse themselves.<ref>[[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]], ''Immersive Ideals / Critical Distances''. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 2009, pp. 48-60</ref>

Immersive digital environments could be thought of as synonymous with virtual reality, but without the implication that actual "reality" is being simulated. An immersive digital environment could be a model of reality, but it could also be a complete fantasy [[User interface|user interface]] or [[Philosophy:Abstraction|abstraction]], as long as the user of the environment is immersed within it. The definition of immersion is wide and variable, but here it is assumed to mean simply that the user feels like they are part of the simulated "[[Astronomy:Universe|universe]]". The success with which an immersive digital environment can actually immerse the [[User (computing)|user]] is dependent on many factors such as believable [[3D computer graphics|3D computer graphics]], [[Surround sound|surround sound]], interactive user-input and other factors such as simplicity, functionality and potential for enjoyment. New technologies are currently under development which claim to bring realistic environmental effects to the players' environment – effects like wind, seat vibration and ambient lighting.

=== Perception ===
To create a sense of full immersion, the 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) must perceive the digital environment to be physically real. [[Engineering:Immersive technology|Immersive technology]] can perceptually fool the senses through:
* Panoramic 3D displays (visual)
* Surround sound acoustics (auditory)
* Haptics and force feedback (tactile)
* Smell replication (olfactory)
* Taste replication (gustation)

=== Interaction ===
Once the senses reach a sufficient belief that the digital environment is real (it is interaction and involvement which can never be real), the user must then be able to interact with the environment in a natural, intuitive manner.  Various immersive technologies such as gestural controls, motion tracking, and computer vision respond to the user's actions and movements.  Brain control interfaces (BCI) respond to the user's brainwave activity.

=== Examples and applications ===
Training and rehearsal simulations run the gamut from part task procedural training (often buttonology, for example:  which button do you push to deploy a refueling boom) through situational simulation (such as crisis response or convoy driver training) to full motion simulations which train pilots or soldiers and law enforcement in scenarios that are too dangerous to train in actual equipment using live ordinance.

Video games from simple arcade to [[Massively multiplayer online game|massively multiplayer online game]] and training programs such as [[Flight simulator|flight]] and [[Software:Driving simulator|driving]] simulators. Entertainment environments such as motion simulators that immerse the riders/players in a virtual digital environment enhanced by motion, visual and aural cues. Reality simulators, such as one of the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda that takes you on a trip through the jungle to meet a tribe of [[Biology:Mountain gorilla|mountain gorilla]]s.<ref>[http://pulseworks.com/Film_Library.html pulseworks.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505131611/http://pulseworks.com/Film_Library.html |date=2009-05-05 }}</ref> Or training versions such as one which simulates taking a ride through human arteries and the [[Biology:Heart|heart]] to witness the buildup of plaque and thus learn about [[Chemistry:Cholesterol|cholesterol]] and health.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usagainstathero.com/arteryexplorer/index.aspx|title=Thank You}}</ref>

In parallel with scientists, artists like Knowbotic Research, [[Biography:Donna Cox|Donna Cox]], Rebecca Allen, Robbie Cooper, Maurice Benayoun, [[Biography:Char Davies|Char Davies]], and Jeffrey Shaw use the potential of immersive virtual reality to create physiologic or symbolic experiences and situations.

Other examples of immersion technology include physical environment / immersive space with surrounding digital projections and sound such as the CAVE, and the use of [[Engineering:Virtual reality headset|virtual reality headset]]s for viewing movies, with head-tracking and computer control of the image presented, so that the viewer appears to be inside the scene. The next generation is VIRTSIM, which achieves total immersion through [[Motion capture|motion capture]] and wireless head mounted displays for teams of up to thirteen immersants enabling natural movement through space and interaction in both the virtual and physical space simultaneously.

==== Use in medical care ====

New fields of studies linked to immersive virtual reality emerge every day. Researchers see a great potential in virtual reality tests serving as complementary interview methods in psychiatric care.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1037/a0036240| title = The use of immersive virtual reality (VR) to predict the occurrence 6 months later of paranoid thinking and posttraumatic stress symptoms assessed by self-report and interviewer methods: A study of individuals who have been physically assaulted| journal = Psychological Assessment| volume = 26| issue = 3| pages = 841–847| year = 2014| last1 = Freeman | first1 = D. | last2 = Antley | first2 = A. | last3 = Ehlers | first3 = A. | last4 = Dunn | first4 = G. | last5 = Thompson | first5 = C. | last6 = Vorontsova | first6 = N. | last7 = Garety | first7 = P. | last8 = Kuipers | first8 = E. | last9 = Glucksman | first9 = E. | last10 = Slater | first10 = M. | pmid = 24708073| pmc = 4151801 }}</ref>
Immersive virtual reality have in studies also been used as an educational tool in which the visualization of psychotic states have been used to get increased understanding of patients with similar symptoms.<ref>http://www.life-slc.org/docs/Bailenson_etal-immersiveVR.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> New treatment methods are available for schizophrenia<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1093/schbul/sbn020| pmid = 18375568| title = Studying and Treating Schizophrenia Using Virtual Reality: A New Paradigm| journal = Schizophrenia Bulletin| volume = 34| issue = 4| pages = 605–610| year = 2007| last1 = Freeman | first1 = D.| pmc = 2486455}}</ref> and other newly developed research areas where immersive virtual reality is expected to achieve melioration is in education of surgical procedures,<ref>{{Google books |id=e3dT_29znBoC |page=36 |title=Virtual Reality in Neuro-Psycho-Physiology }}</ref> rehabilitation program from injuries and surgeries<ref>{{Cite book | doi = 10.1007/978-3-319-00846-2_434| chapter = A Data-Globe and Immersive Virtual Reality Environment for Upper Limb Rehabilitation after Spinal Cord Injury| title = XIII Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing 2013| volume = 41| pages = 1759| series = IFMBE Proceedings| year = 2014| last1 = De Los Reyes-Guzman | first1 = A. | last2 = Dimbwadyo-Terrer | first2 = I. | last3 = Trincado-Alonso | first3 = F. | last4 = Aznar | first4 = M. A. | last5 = Alcubilla | first5 = C. | last6 = Pérez-Nombela | first6 = S. | last7 = Del Ama-Espinosa | first7 = A. | last8 = Polonio-López | first8 = B. A. | last9 = Gil-Agudo | first9 = Á. | isbn = 978-3-319-00845-5| chapter-url = http://oa.upm.es/35010/}}</ref> and reduction of phantom limb pain.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1007/s00221-012-3352-9| pmid = 23223781| title = Virtual reality for assessment of patients suffering chronic pain: A case study| journal = Experimental Brain Research| volume = 225| issue = 1| pages = 105–117| year = 2012| last1 = Llobera | first1 = J. | last2 = González-Franco | first2 = M. | last3 = Perez-Marcos | first3 = D. | last4 = Valls-Solé | first4 = J. | last5 = Slater | first5 = M. | last6 = Sanchez-Vives | first6 = M. V. | s2cid = 2064966}}</ref>

==== Applications in the built environment ====
In the domain of architectural design and [[Engineering:Building science|building science]], immersive virtual environments are adopted to facilitate architects and building engineers to enhance the design process through assimilating their sense of scale, depth,&nbsp;and spatial awareness. Such platforms integrate the use of virtual reality models and mixed reality technologies in various functions of building science research,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kuliga|first1=S.F.|last2=Thrash|first2=T.|last3=Dalton|first3=R.C.|last4=Hölscher|first4=C.|title=Virtual reality as an empirical research tool — Exploring user experience in a real building and a corresponding virtual model|journal=Computers, Environment and Urban Systems|volume=54|pages=363–375|doi=10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2015.09.006|year=2015}}</ref> construction operations,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kamat Vineet R.|last2=Martinez Julio C.|date=2001-10-01|title=Visualizing Simulated Construction Operations in 3D|journal=Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering|volume=15|issue=4|pages=329–337|doi=10.1061/(asce)0887-3801(2001)15:4(329)}}</ref> personnel training, end-user surveys, performance [[Simulation|simulation]]s<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Malkawi|first1=Ali M.|last2=Srinivasan|first2=Ravi S.|title=A new paradigm for Human-Building Interaction: the use of CFD and Augmented Reality|journal=Automation in Construction|volume=14|issue=1|pages=71–84|doi=10.1016/j.autcon.2004.08.001|year=2005}}</ref> and [[Building information modeling|building information modeling]] visualization.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/revit-live/overview|title=Revit Live {{!}} Immersive Architectural Visualization {{!}} Autodesk|access-date=2017-11-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134859/https://www.autodesk.com/products/revit-live/overview|archive-date=2017-11-09}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://irisvr.com/|title=IrisVR - Virtual Reality for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction|website=irisvr.com|access-date=2017-11-09}}</ref> [[Head-mounted display]]s (with both 3 degrees of freedom and [[Physics:Six degrees of freedom|6 degrees of freedom]] systems) and CAVE platforms are used for spatial visualization and building information modeling (BIM) navigations for different design and evaluation purposes.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Frost|first1=P.|last2=Warren|first2=P.|title=2000 IEEE Conference on Information Visualization. An International Conference on Computer Visualization and Graphics |chapter=Virtual reality used in a collaborative architectural design process |date=2000|pages=568–573|doi=10.1109/iv.2000.859814|isbn=978-0-7695-0743-9|s2cid=30912415}}</ref> Clients, architects and building owners use derived applications from [[Software:Game engine|game engine]]s to navigate 1:1 scale BIM models, allowing a virtual walkthrough experience of future buildings.<ref name=":1" /> For such use cases, the performance improvement of space navigation between [[Engineering:Virtual reality headset|virtual reality headset]]s and [[Engineering:Desktop computer|2D desktop screens]] has been investigated in various studies, with some suggesting significant improvement in virtual reality headsets<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Santos|first1=Beatriz Sousa|last2=Dias|first2=Paulo|last3=Pimentel|first3=Angela|last4=Baggerman|first4=Jan-Willem|last5=Ferreira|first5=Carlos|last6=Silva|first6=Samuel|last7=Madeira|first7=Joaquim|date=2009-01-01|title=Head-mounted display versus desktop for 3D navigation in virtual reality: a user study|journal=Multimedia Tools and Applications|language=en|volume=41|issue=1|pages=161|doi=10.1007/s11042-008-0223-2|issn=1380-7501|citeseerx=10.1.1.469.4984|s2cid=17298825}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ruddle|first1=Roy A.|last2=Payne|first2=Stephen J.|last3=Jones|first3=Dylan M.|date=1999-04-01|title=Navigating Large-Scale Virtual Environments: What Differences Occur Between Helmet-Mounted and Desk-Top Displays?|journal=Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments|volume=8|issue=2|pages=157–168|doi=10.1162/105474699566143|s2cid=15785663|issn=1054-7460|url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/5428/1/RARpresence-v8-2-1999.pdf}}</ref> while others indicate no significant difference.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Robertson|first1=George|last2=Czerwinski|first2=Mary|last3=van Dantzich|first3=Maarten|title=Proceedings of the 10th annual ACM symposium on User interface software and technology - UIST '97 |chapter=Immersion in desktop virtual reality |date=1997|location=New York, NY, USA|publisher=ACM|pages=11–19|doi=10.1145/263407.263409|isbn=978-0897918817|citeseerx=10.1.1.125.175|s2cid=2699341}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ruddle|first1=Roy A|last2=Péruch|first2=Patrick|date=2004-03-01|title=Effects of proprioceptive feedback and environmental characteristics on spatial learning in virtual environments|journal=International Journal of Human-Computer Studies|volume=60|issue=3|pages=299–326|doi=10.1016/j.ijhcs.2003.10.001|citeseerx=10.1.1.294.6442}}</ref>&nbsp;Architects and building engineers can also use [[Immersive design|immersive design]] tools to model various building elements in virtual reality [[Engineering:Computer-aided design|CAD]] interfaces,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vspline.com/|title=vSpline|website=www.vspline.com|access-date=2017-11-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919001556/http://vspline.com/|archive-date=2017-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gravitysketch.com|title=VR - Gravity Sketch|work=Gravity Sketch|access-date=2017-11-09|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115003046/http://www.gravitysketch.com/vr/|archive-date=2017-01-15}}</ref> and apply property modifications to building information modeling (BIM) files through such environments.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kalloctech.com/vr.jsp|title=VR Productivity for AEC|website=www.kalloctech.com|access-date=2017-11-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134820/https://www.kalloctech.com/vr.jsp|archive-date=2017-11-09}}</ref>

In the building construction phase, immersive environments are used to improve site preparations, on site communication and collaboration of team members, safety<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Colombo|first1=Simone|last2=Manca|first2=Davide|last3=Brambilla|first3=Sara|last4=Totaro|first4=Roberto|last5=Galvagni|first5=Remo|date=2011-01-01|chapter=Towards the Automatic Measurement of Human Performance in Virtual Environments for Industrial Safety|pages=67–76|doi=10.1115/winvr2011-5564|title=ASME 2011 World Conference on Innovative Virtual Reality|isbn=978-0-7918-4432-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daqri.com/products/smart-helmet/|title=DAQRI - Smart Helmet®|website=daqri.com|access-date=2017-11-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191141/https://daqri.com/products/smart-helmet/|archive-date=2017-11-09}}</ref> and [[Finance:Logistics|logistics]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Intelligent Computing in Engineering and Architecture|volume = 4200|last=Messner|first=John I.|date=2006|publisher=Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg|isbn=9783540462460|series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science|pages=484–491|language=en|doi=10.1007/11888598_43|chapter = Evaluating the Use of Immersive Display Media for Construction Planning}}</ref> For training of construction workers, virtual environments have shown to be highly effective in skill transfer with studies showing similar performance results to training in real environments.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Waller|first1=David|last2=Hunt|first2=Earl|last3=Knapp|first3=David|date=1998-04-01|title=The Transfer of Spatial Knowledge in Virtual Environment Training|journal=Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments|volume=7|issue=2|pages=129–143|doi=10.1162/105474698565631|issn=1054-7460|citeseerx=10.1.1.39.6307|s2cid=17900737}}</ref> Moreover, virtual platforms are also used in the operation phase of buildings to interact and visualize data with [[Internet of things|Internet of Things (IoT)]] devices available in buildings, process improvement and also resource management.<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=V. Whisker|author2= A. Baratta|author3= S. Yerrapathruni|author4= J.Messner|author5= T. Shaw|author6=M.Warren|author7= E. Rotthoff|author8= J. Winters|author9= J. Clelland|author10= F. Johnson|date=2003|title=Using immersive virtual environments to develop and visualize construction schedules for advanced nuclear power plants|journal=Proceedings of ICAPP|volume=3|pages=4–7|citeseerx=10.1.1.456.7914}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Colombo|first1=Simone|last2=Nazir|first2=Salman|last3=Manca|first3=Davide|date=2014-10-01|title=Immersive Virtual Reality for Training and Decision Making: Preliminary Results of Experiments Performed With a Plant Simulator|journal=SPE Economics & Management|language=en|volume=6|issue=4|pages=165–172|doi=10.2118/164993-pa|issn=2150-1173}}</ref>

Occupant and end-user studies are performed through immersive environments.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Virtual&nbsp;immersive platforms engage future occupants in the building design process by providing a sense of presence to users with integrating pre-construction mock-ups and BIM models for the evaluation of alternative design options in the building model in a timely and cost efficient manner.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mahdjoub|first1=Morad|last2=Monticolo|first2=Davy|last3=Gomes|first3=Samuel|last4=Sagot|first4=Jean-Claude|title=A collaborative Design for Usability approach supported by Virtual Reality and a Multi-Agent System embedded in a PLM environment|journal=Computer-Aided Design|volume=42|issue=5|pages=402–413|doi=10.1016/j.cad.2009.02.009|year=2010|s2cid=9933280 }}</ref> Studies conducting human experiments have shown users perform similarly in daily office activities (object identification, reading speed and comprehension) within immersive virtual environments and benchmarked physical environments.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Heydarian|first1=Arsalan|last2=Carneiro|first2=Joao P.|last3=Gerber|first3=David|last4=Becerik-Gerber|first4=Burcin|last5=Hayes|first5=Timothy|last6=Wood|first6=Wendy|title=Immersive virtual environments versus physical built environments: A benchmarking study for building design and user-built environment explorations|journal=Automation in Construction|volume=54|pages=116–126|doi=10.1016/j.autcon.2015.03.020|year=2015}}</ref> In the field of [[Earth:Lighting|lighting]], virtual reality headsets have been used investigate the influence of [[Engineering:Facade|façade]] patterns on the perceptual impressions and satisfaction of a simulated [[Earth:Daylighting (architecture)|daylit]] space.<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Chamilothori, Kynthia |author2=Wienold, Jan |author3=Andersen, Marilyne |title=Daylight patterns as a means to influence the spatial ambiance: a preliminary study|url=https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/218453|journal=Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Ambiances|year=2016 }}</ref>&nbsp;Moreover, artificial lighting studies have implemented immersive virtual environments to evaluate end-users lighting preferences of simulated virtual scenes with the controlling of the [[Engineering:Window blind|blinds]] and artificial lights in the virtual environment.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Heydarian|first1=Arsalan|last2=Carneiro|first2=Joao P.|last3=Gerber|first3=David|last4=Becerik-Gerber|first4=Burcin|title=Immersive virtual environments, understanding the impact of design features and occupant choice upon lighting for building performance|journal=Building and Environment|volume=89|pages=217–228|doi=10.1016/j.buildenv.2015.02.038|year=2015}}</ref>

For [[Engineering:Structural engineering|structural]] engineering and analysis, immersive environments enable the user to focus on structural investigations without getting too distracted to operate and navigate the simulation tool.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Huang|first1=J.M.|last2=Ong|first2=S.K.|last3=Nee|first3=A.Y.C.|title=Visualization and interaction of finite element analysis in augmented reality|journal=Computer-Aided Design|volume=84|pages=1–14|doi=10.1016/j.cad.2016.10.004|year=2017}}</ref> [[Virtual reality|Virtual]] and [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] applications have been designed for [[Finite element method|finite element analysis]] of [[Physics:Shell (structure)|shell structures]]. Using [[Stylus (computing)|stylus]] and [[Wired glove|data gloves]] as input devices, the user can create, modify mesh, and specify boundary conditions. For a simple geometry, real-time color-coded results&nbsp;are obtained by changing loads on the model.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Liverani|first1=A.|last2=Kuester|first2=F.|last3=Hamann|first3=B.|title=1999 IEEE International Conference on Information Visualization (Cat. No. PR00210) |chapter=Towards interactive finite element analysis of shell structures in virtual reality |date=1999|pages=340–346|doi=10.1109/iv.1999.781580|isbn=978-0-7695-0210-6|s2cid=13613971|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/76m004md}}</ref>&nbsp;Studies have used [[Artificial neural network|artificial neural networks (ANN)]] or approximation methods to achieve real-time interaction for the complex geometry, and to simulate its impact&nbsp;via [[Wired glove|haptic gloves]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hambli|first1=Ridha|last2=Chamekh|first2=Abdessalam|last3=Salah|first3=Hédi Bel Hadj|title=Real-time deformation of structure using finite element and neural networks in virtual reality applications|journal=Finite Elements in Analysis and Design|volume=42|issue=11|pages=985–991|doi=10.1016/j.finel.2006.03.008|year=2006}}</ref> Large scale structures and bridge simulation have also been achieved in immersive virtual environments. The user can move the loads acting on the bridge, and finite element analysis results are updated immediately using an approximate module.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Connell|first1=Mike|last2=Tullberg|first2=Odd|title=A framework for immersive FEM visualisation using transparent object communication in a distributed network environment|journal=Advances in Engineering Software|volume=33|issue=7–10|pages=453–459|doi=10.1016/s0965-9978(02)00063-7|year=2002}}</ref>

== Detrimental effects ==

Simulation sickness, or simulator sickness, is a condition where a person exhibits symptoms similar to motion sickness caused by playing computer/simulation/video games (Oculus Rift is working to solve simulator sickness).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4636508/oculus-rift-is-working-to-solve-simulator-sickness|title=Oculus Rift is working to solve simulator sickness|date=19 August 2013|publisher=Polygon|access-date=2015-05-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142134/http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4636508/oculus-rift-is-working-to-solve-simulator-sickness|archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref>

[[Medicine:Motion sickness|Motion sickness]] due to virtual reality is very similar to simulation sickness and motion sickness due to films. In virtual reality, however, the effect is made more acute as all external reference points are blocked from vision, the simulated images are three-dimensional and in some cases stereo sound that may also give a sense of motion. Studies have shown that exposure to rotational motions in a virtual environment can cause significant increases in nausea and other symptoms of motion sickness.<ref>So, R.H.Y. and Lo, W.T. (1999) "Cybersickness: An Experimental Study to Isolate the Effects of Rotational Scene Oscillations." Proceedings of IEEE Virtual Reality '99 Conference, March 13–17, 1999, Houston, Texas. Published by IEEE Computer Society, pp.&nbsp;237–241</ref>

Other behavioural changes such as stress, addiction, isolation and mood changes are also discussed to be side-effects caused by immersive virtual reality.<ref>{{cite web |last=Costello |first=Patrick |date=1997-07-23 |title=Health and Safety Issues associated with Virtual Reality - A Review of Current Literature |url=http://www.agocg.ac.uk/reports/virtual/37/37.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218043150/http://www.agocg.ac.uk/reports/virtual/37/37.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-18 |access-date=2014-11-25}}</ref>

==See also==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
{{div col}}
* [[Alternate reality game]]
* Environmental sculpture
* [[Engineering:Fisheye lens|Fisheye lens]]
* [[Interactive art]]
* [[Social:Transportation theory (psychology)|Narrative transportation]]
* MSG Sphere
* Neo-conceptual art
* Oculus
* 70mm film
* [[Philosophy:Simulated reality|Simulated reality]]
* Sound art
* Sound installation
* Super Panavision 70
* Douglas Trumbull
* Video installation
* [[Virtual art]]
* [[Engineering:Volumetric video|Volumetric video]]
* International Panorama Council
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120413044512/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=31389 media.ford.com]
* [http://on.aol.com/video/ford-immersive-vehicle-environment-lab-517401218?icid=video_related_0 on.aol.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130203155800/http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/news/ford-brings-virtual-reality-presentation-to-ucf-1.2767843 Reyes, Stephanie. "Ford brings virtual reality presentation to UCF.", September 2012.]
* Christiane Paul, ''Digital Art'', Thames & Hudson Ltd.
* Oliver Grau, "Virtual Art: From Illusion to Immersion" MIT-Press, Cambridge 2003
* Timothy Murray, Derrick de Kerckhove, Oliver Grau, Kristine Stiles, Jean-Baptiste Barrière, Dominique Moulon, ''Maurice Benayoun Open Art'', Nouvelles éditions Scala, 2011, French version, {{ISBN|978-2-35988-046-5}}
* Allen Varney, (August 8, 2006). "Immersion Unexplained" in "The Escapist"
* Frank Popper, "From Technological to Virtual Art", MIT Press. {{ISBN|0-262-16230-X}}.
* Oliver Grau (Ed.), ''Media Art Histories'', MIT-Press, Cambridge 2007
* [[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]], "Immersive Excess in the Apse of Lascaux", Technonoetic Arts 3, no3. 2005
* {{cite web | last =Adams | first =Ernest | title =Postmodernism and the Three Types of Immersion | publisher =Gamasutra | date =July 9, 2004 | url =http://designersnotebook.com/Columns/063_Postmodernism/063_postmodernism.htm | access-date =2007-12-26  }}
* {{cite book | last =Björk | first =Staffan |author2=Jussi Holopainen | title =Patterns In Game Design | publisher =Charles River Media | year =2004 | url = {{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=IFQfyODK4wAC }} | isbn =978-1-58450-354-5 | page =423 }}
* Edward A. Shanken, ''Art and Electronic Media''. London: Phaidon, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-7148-4782-5}}
* [[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]] ''Towards an Immersive Intelligence: Essays on the Work of Art in the Age of Computer Technology and Virtual Reality  (1993–2006)''. Edgewise Press. New York, N.Y. 2009
* [[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]], ''Immersive Ideals / Critical Distances''. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 2009

==External links==
*[http://www.immersivetech.org/ Annual Summit on Immersive Technology]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110812233436/http://burundi.sk/monoskop/log/?s=nechvatal] pdf download of [[Biography:Joseph Nechvatal|Joseph Nechvatal]]'s text book: ''Immersive Ideals / Critical Distances''. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 2009
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708120207/http://captivatingsound.com/phd-thesis-captivating-sound-the-role-of-audio-for-immersion-in-games/ Audio and Game Immersion] PhD thesis about game audio (the IEZA Framework) and immersion.
* [http://immersiveeducation.org/ Immersive Education Initiative]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100413230413/http://www.5dconference.com/main/ Immersive Design Conference]
* [http://www.augmented-reality.org/ismar/ International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910054450/http://www.augmented-reality.org/ismar |date=2009-09-10 }}
* [http://www.immersiveinfotech.com Immersive Infotech]
* [http://immersivelrn.org Immersive Learning Research Network]
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=47wO-Az22v0]

{{Emerging technologies|other=yes}}
{{Mixed reality}}

[[Category:Virtual reality]]
[[Category:Technology assessments]]
[[Category:Sound]]

{{Sourceattribution|Immersion (virtual reality)}}