title: An investigation into factors influencing immersion in interactive virtual reality environments.
abstract: Two interactive virtual reality environments were used to identify factors that may affect, or be affected by, the degree of immersion in a virtual world. In particular, the level of stress in a "swimming with dolphins" simulation is measured, as is the degree of simulator sickness resulting form a virtual roller coaster. Analysis of the results indicates that a relationship between the degree of immersion and the following factors: excitement, comfort, quality and age. The following factors are found to depend on the degree of immersion: simulator sickness, control, excitement and desire to repeat the experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bangay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D004289:Dolphins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000523:psychology; D009949:Orientation; D012931:Social Environment; D013550:Swimming; D014584:User-Computer Interface