Sensorized Garment Augmented 3D Pervasive Virtual Reality System

Fitts’ Law posits that the time necessary for a user to move a pointer (such as a mouse or finger) to a target area is the function of the distance traveled and the size of the target. This translates to a simple rule that the smaller the target and larger the distance to the target, the longer it takes to reach and select. This principle is a fundamental consideration in the usability of any interface. Relatively little research has been done regarding the use of Fitts’ Law in Virtual Reality (VR) environments. This paper attempts to demonstrate that Fitts’ Law continues to hold when applied to VR interactions - specifically when a user is wearing a Head Mounted Display (HMD) and controlling a pointer with a VR controller. This oversight poses a significant problem as VR technology becomes increasingly prevalent in gaming, training, and many other applications. Understanding the applicability of Fitts' Law in VR is crucial for developing intuitive and efficient user interfaces in these immersive environments. This paper aims to bridge this gap by investigating whether Fitts' Law holds true in VR interactions. By measuring the time taken for participants to select a range of targets, a Fitts’ Law linear model was created to test if the law still applied. The experiment demonstrated that Fitts’ Law is still applicable in VR for pointing and selection with handheld controls, thereby filling an important gap in the understanding of user interactions in VR environments.

Extended-Reality Technologies: An Overview of Emerging Applications in Medical Education and Clinical Care.

The article examines the transformative impact of virtual reality (VR) technology on business processes and the social sphere. The main aspects of VR implementation in the corporate sector are considered, including optimizing personnel training processes, improving communication strategies, and increasing marketing efficiency through interactive visualizations. The key advantages of using VR for developing customer-oriented approaches, creating new business models, and expanding market opportunities are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the impact of VR on the social sphere, in particular education, healthcare, psychological assistance, and inclusion. The role of VR in changing traditional teaching methods through interactive simulations and the ability to model complex situations is determined. It is shown how VR provides a deeper integration of technologies into social processes, contributing to the formation of a new type of interaction between people. The article also analyzes the barriers to VR implementation, including high costs, technical difficulties, and the need for society to adapt to new formats of interaction. The prospects for the development of the technology are presented, which include the creation of full-fledged virtual ecosystems capable of changing traditional models of behavior in both business and social structures. The results of the study demonstrate the significant potential of VR in transforming modern business processes and social practices, which requires further study to form effective strategies for the implementation and use of this technology. Virtual reality technology is one of the immersive technologies that have been demonstrating rapid development and implementation dynamics in various industries in recent years. Together with robotics and network technologies, it is among the three most promising computer technologies. Although less than 100 years have passed since its appearance, virtual reality technology still has many promising opportunities for the development of its theory and practical application. This article is devoted to virtual reality technology and its applications based on an analysis of existing literature, scientific research and statistical data. The main content includes an overview of its advantages, characteristics, technical composition and applications in various industries.

Controlling characters in a virtual reality (VR) environment can lead to the interiorization of their body dimensions by the recipients. The possible preservation of these distortions in their psyche will indicate a high degree of psychological impact of a VR on a person and the potential danger of developing depersonalization of the recipients and their dependence on such stimulation. The study of the stability of these distortions is necessary in the context of ensuring the safety of the impact of VR environments on the human psyche. The main focus of the study is on the perception distortions of human body dimensions, as they are sensed by people immersed in a VR environment, and their dynamics depending on the number of immersions. The impact of the virtual reality environment was simulated using the Freedom Locomotion VR application. One virtual reality immersion session took 15 minutes. To obtain psychometric indicators of the subjects perception of their own body dimensions, the technique Measurements according to M. Feldenkrais was used. All the participants (N = 45, three experimental groups) underwent a mandatory preliminary measurement using this technique (several hours before exposure) and a final measurement (one day after the last exposure). At the same time, the results of preliminary measurements were taken as indicators of the subjects habitual perception of their own body dimensions and were considered in each data processing as a comparison group. Free movement in a VR environment leads to distortions in the subjects perception of their own body dimensions. In all the experimental groups, there was a tendency to exaggerate body dimensions immediately after immersions, which indicates the qualitative similarity of these distortions. The effect of repetitive immersion in a VR environment on the perception of body dimensions is that it increases awareness in perceiving body parts that are least active at the time of immersion. Controlling an anthropomorphic character in a VR leads to an increase in the subjective significance of the recipients own body perception and an increased concentration of attention on the parameters least involved in immersion. The results of the study show that an increased level of awareness in perceiving their own bodies is characteristic of the subjects who have experience of repetitive immersions in a VR environment in the guise of an anthropomorphic character. Controlling a bodily projection in a VR headset does not cause its long-term interiorization, but has a positive effect on the formation of personal corporeality.

The worldwide increase in overweight and obesity and the alarming statistics at national level, combined with the increasing negative effects to health and linked to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, fat liver among others has driven to implement strategies, agreements, laws among others strategies in different disciplines to combat this epidemic, seeking treatments with long-term impact on the patients.In this paper we discuss the possible role of virtual reality (VR) in addressing this problem within an integrated cognitive behavioral approach. Virtual reality has proved to be useful for the assessment and treatment of several mental disorders, mainly anxiety disorders for its ability to produce emotional and behavioral responses similar to those that occur in the real world As a result, VR technology has been used in the treatment of almost all anxiety disorders and its application has been extended to the treatment of a wide range of psychopathologies. Specifically, as recently noticed by Ferrer-Garcia and Gutierrez-Maldonado, VR is emerging as a technology that is especially suitable for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances. To test this approach, we conducted a controlled trial with twenty-four participants who experienced body dissatisfaction even after a >30/40% excess body weight loss, the results are presented and discussed.

With the continuous development and progress of virtual reality technology in recent years, the application of virtual reality technology in all aspects of real life is no longer limited to the military field, medical, or film production fields, but it gradually appears in front of the public, into the lives of ordinary people. The human-computer interaction method in virtual reality and the presentation effect of the virtual scene are the two most important aspects of the virtual reality experience. How to provide a good human-computer interaction method for virtual reality applications and how to improve the final presentation effect of the virtual reality scene is also becoming an important research direction. This paper takes the virtual fitness club experience system as the application background, analyzes the function and performance requirements of the virtual reality experience system in the virtual reality environment, and proposes the use of Kinect as a video acquisition device to extract the user’s somatosensory operation actions through in-depth information to achieve somatosensory control. This article adopts a real human-computer interaction solution, uses Unity 3D game engine to build a virtual reality scene, defines shaders to improve the rendering effect of the scene, and uses Oculus Rift DK2 to complete an immersive 3D scene demonstration. This process greatly reduces resource consumption; it not only enables users to experience unprecedented immersion as users but also helps people create unprecedented scenes and experiences through virtual imagination. The virtual fitness club experience system probably reduces resource consumption by nearly 70%.

Objective: To explore a novel method for preoperative precision assessment of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with blood vessel as axis based on three-dimensional(3D) visualization and virtual reality(VR) technology and its application values. Methods: High-quality thin-layer enhanced CT data were collected from 20 patients with centrally located HCC who treated at First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from March 2017 to August 2018 diagnosed by preoperative examination. There were 18 males and 2 females, aged 28 to 69 years, all of Child-Pugh grade A. First of all, 3D reconstruction was performed by a 3D visualization software; then, the reconstructed 3D image was imported into VR development engine for VR research; afterwards, the analysis and evaluation system with blood vessel as axis was established based on 3D visualization classification of centrally located HCC; therefore, the relationship of the tumor to its major peripheral blood vessels was accurately judged and the surgical planning was formulated. Two images were brought into the operating room for navigation in surgery. The assessments results of preoperative data (CT and (or) MRI) and three-dimensional visualization of blood vessels in VR environment were compared; the values of the preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, serum albumin and bilirubin were recorded and compared. Chi-square test, t-test and non-parametric test were used for the analysis of counting data, continuous measurement data and non-normal distribution measurement data, respectively. Results: 3D visualization modeling was completed in all of the 20 patients with centrally located HCC. According to the results of 3D visualization classification of centrally located HCC, there were 3 cases of type Ⅰ,1 case of type Ⅱ,4 cases of type Ⅲ,7 cases of type Ⅳ and 5 cases of type Ⅴ; according to the assessment and classification based on blood vessel as the axis, there were 6 cases of type Ⅰa,2 cases of type Ⅰb,2 cases of type Ⅱa,9 cases of type Ⅱb and 1 case of type Ⅱc. All patients underwent successful resection of tumor under the guidance of 3D visualization and VR technology. There were 15 cases whose assessment results based on preoperative CT/MRI were consistent with intraoperative findings, with a coincidence rate of 75.0%(15/20); while in VR environment, the assessment results of 3D visualization with blood vessel as axis were all consistent with the intraoperative findings, with coincidence rate of 100%(20/20). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (χ(2)=5.714, P=0.017). There was no red blood cell transfusion in all patients during the operation. The preoperative hemoglobin was (128.8±14.9)g/L, and it was (119.8±12.5)g/L on postoperative day 1. There was no significant difference between these two sets of data (t=2.07, P=0.054). No death during the perioperative period and no complications such as hepatic failure, hemorrhage and biliary fistula after operation occurred. Conclusion: Preoperative evaluation based on 3D visualization and VR technology with blood vessel as the axis has significant clinical value for preoperative planning and surgical navigation of centrally located HCC.

This study provides a novel examination of the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technology into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction, specifically within the context of Management studies at Universitas Borneo Tarakan. It addresses a significant gap in empirical research by focusing on VR's effectiveness in teaching ESP within a management context, an area that has yet to be thoroughly explored. Using pre-and post-test scores from 286 students and detailed evaluation metrics, this research provides robust evidence of VR's transformative potential in enhancing ESP instruction. The findings indicate a clear improvement in language proficiency following VR-enhanced teaching, with significant increases in top-scoring students and decreases among those struggling with lower scores. Additionally, high levels of student engagement were observed during VR-enhanced lessons. Students reported positive usability experiences with the technology and expressed satisfaction with their learning outcomes. They also perceived significant benefits from using VR technology in their ESP instruction, including improved comprehension, increased motivation and engagement, and enhanced memory retention. However, alongside these positive outcomes are challenges that must be addressed for effective implementation. These include technical issues experienced by some participants suggesting the need for improvements or troubleshooting to enhance user experience; adaptation difficulties faced by learners when transitioning to new teaching methods introduced via virtual reality indicating the importance of providing additional support or guidance; and accessibility challenges emphasizing the need to ensure equal access for all learners when implementing such innovative technologies. In light of these findings, it is recommended that institutions like Universitas Borneo Tarakan looking to integrate VR into their ESP instruction consider establishing robust technical support structures to address potential issues. They should also provide additional guidance during transitions to new teaching methods introduced via virtual reality and prioritize ensuring accessibility for all learners. This study contributes valuable insights into effective strategies for modernizing ESP instruction using innovative technologies like Virtual Reality while highlighting areas where further exploration is needed.

Perception of safe robot idle time in virtual reality and real industrial environments

Virtual Reality and High Performance Computing

The rapid development of virtual and augmented reality technologies is currently taking place in almost all spheres of activity. Elements of virtual and augmented reality are used in such areas as education, medicine, transport, gaming, tourism and others. The active spread of these technologies causes the emergence of special competencies in the IT labor market and, as a result, the formation of new professions.Many Russian universities are training students in IT training areas. Specialization in the development of computer games and virtual reality applications has begun recently. The provision of practical classes is accompanied by specific tasks, which gives students the opportunity to improve the use of software and technical devices.The relevance of the research is determined by the current demand for the use of the latest technologies by IT developers in the field of creating computer games. Today, technologies that provide a player’s immersion in virtual reality are becoming more and more popular. One of these technologies is a suit with wearable sensors that track a person’s position in space in real time. However, there are quite a few real described projects in the literature and on the Internet. This study examines the process of developing a task for creating a game application using virtual reality technology: a suit with wearable sensors for teaching students.Materials and methods of research. Timely identification of the needs of the IT market in personnel training allows educational organizations to form new training programs of different levels of training. This approach makes it possible to target the educational and methodological materials being developed to use the latest achievements in the development of the field under study.Using a systematic approach, the study characterizes virtual reality suits and sensors for monitoring the position in the user’s space. Thus, the goal of the task was to ensure the immersiveness and convenience of interaction between the player and the game environment.Based on materials on software, position sensors in space, the approach of pedagogical design was applied and the procedure was formed for a practical task, reflecting the relevant competencies.Results. The study was conducted on the basis in the framework of laboratory and practical work of students, as well as at a real enterprise. Training in the new profile of the direction of training “Applied informatics” is fully equipped with all the latest technologies in this field. As a result of the work, the content of the practical task was developed.Real development of virtual and augmented reality applications is conducted jointly with students. Almost all projects used a suit with body sensors.Conclusion. Our study examines in detail the process of developing an application using a suit with wearable sensors for further training of students. Based on the results, work can be carried out on real projects for any field. Based on the research materials, it is planned to issue a textbook for students with the profile of developing computer games and virtual / augmented reality applications.

“Awe” is a category of emotion within the spectrum of self-transcendent experiences. Awe has wellness benefits, with feelings of social interconnectivity and increased life satisfaction. However, awe experiences remain rare in our everyday lives, and rarer in lab environments. We posit that Virtual Reality (VR) may help to make self-transcendent and potentially transformative experiences of awe more accessible to individuals. Here, we investigated how interactive VR as a positive technology may elicit awe, and how features of aesthetic beauty/scale, familiarity, and personalization (self-selection of travel destinations) may induce awe. In this mixed-methods study, participants used an interactive VR system to explore Earth from ground and orbit. We collected: introspective interviews and self-report questionnaires with participants’ experience of awe; information on personality traits and gender; and we recorded physiological goose bumps on the skin (using an arm-mounted goose bump camera instrument), which is a documented marker of an awe experience. Results showed that on a scale of 0–100 for self-reported awe, four different interactive VR environments yielded an average awe rating of 79.7, indicating that interactive VR can indeed induce awe. 43.8% of participants experienced goose bumps: awe ratings positively correlated with the occurrence of goose bumps with those who experienced goose bumps having showed significantly higher ratings of awe than those who did not. Most (64%) of the goose bumps occurred when participants self-selected their VR environment. Participant statements from the interviews were characteristic of an awe-inspiring experience, revealed themes of social connection, and usability problems with the VR interface. Personality traits yielded no clear correlation to awe ratings, and females appear to experience more goose bumps than males. In summary: (1) Interactive VR can elicit awe, especially within familiar, self-selected environments; (2) Physiological goose bumps can be recorded to provide reliable, non-intrusive indications of awe; (3) Care must be taken to design interaction interfaces that do not impede awe; and (4) While personality traits are not correlated to awe ratings, goose bumps were experienced more frequently among females. We aim to conduct future studies using custom VR environments, interfaces, and additional physiological measures to provide further insight into awe.

RETRACTED: Development and application of VR course resources based on embedded system in open education

The present study aimed to address the potential of ground-based food and sensory research in representing the isolated and confined environment of a spacecraft. Virtual Reality (VR) technology was employed to simulate the experience of perceived isolation and confinement within space. The VR simulation emulates the International Space Station in low Earth orbit, comprising interconnected space modules equipped with integrated sensory analysis tools for evaluating food odor cues within the VR environment (‘Food in Space’, Supplementary A). In our first experiment, 44 healthy participants were asked to rate the intensity of three commercially available food odor samples (vanilla, lemon, almond) and a control on a 5-point Likert scale, in the neutral sitting posture, a NASA-Neutral sitting posture (mimicking a ‘microgravity’ posture using a commercial ‘Zero-gravity’ outdoor chair set at 122–124°), and within the VR simulation. This first phase revealed large individual variations across odors. Importantly, there were no significant differences for most odors when the odor perceptions of the three odors between the neutral and ‘microgravity’ neutral postures were compared. However, there were significant differences for select odors between VR and both the postures (Supplementary B) indicating that the VR ‘Food in Space’ environment may impact odor perception differently across odors. A second pilot study with 16 participants evaluated four food odor samples (vanilla, lemon, almond, eucalyptus) and a control across different contexts (baseline control, virtual reality) and time points during virtual reality. The emotional responses during the experiences were also evaluated explicitly using validated scales such as the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) and the short-formed Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF). This second phase revealed that participants' descriptions of their emotional responses underwent changes before and after their virtual reality experiences. Terms used were generally more neutral and positive before VR (e.g., ‘interested’, ‘attentive’) and more negative after spending an average of 9 min 35 s in virtual reality (e.g., ‘nervous’, ‘guilty’). There was also variation across participants in terms of emotional responses and odor intensity perception (blank control) especially after spending a longer time in the virtual reality environment (Supplementary C). This exploratory study underscores the potential of using VR technology as a space analog to simulate context for studying sensory responses in relation to food as the current data matches anecdotal eating behavior of space travelers. Personal variation in odor perception should also be taken into consideration, especially in creating personalized meal plans for space applications.

With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of application scenarios, both AR and VR have broad development prospects. Based on the increasingly mature technology, can VR and AR technology be brought into sports, what role can they play in various sports projects, and what prospects do they have in the sports industry. In winter sports, heavy competitive events, and many training events, athletes can simulate training anytime and anywhere to understand their opponents. In theory, promoting VR and AR into the sports industry can bring heavy competitive sports and winter events to the masses, allowing more people to experience the charm of sports more accurately and intuitively. The application of VR and AR technology in the sports industry, especially in winter ice and snow events, not only demonstrates its strong potential, but also heralds new directions for the future development of the sports industry. Through these technologies, athletes have gained more efficient training methods, while audiences can also enjoy a more immersive and interactive viewing experience. Despite some technological and market challenges, with the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of application fields, the role of VR and AR technology in the sports industry will become increasingly significant.