User Performance in Virtual Reality Environments: The Capability of Immersive Virtual Reality Systems in Enhancing User Spatial Awareness and Producing Consistent Design Results

Abstract

Spatial decision-making in different virtual environments may vary based on the levels of spatial awareness experienced within Virtual Reality (VR) systems. Features and characteristics of VR systems may act as facilitators or distractors of spatial awareness, which can result in extreme variations in user spatial decisions. This research explored the capability of an Immersive Virtual Reality Interactive Environment (IVRIE) and a desktop-based VR (DT system) in reducing extreme variations in spatial decisions and inconsistent design results. Users’ spatial decisions, performance, and design results in both systems were studied regarding the impact of these two systems’ features on users, including the sense of immersion, types of interaction, and usage of eye-level view in spatial designs. The design results produced in both systems were compared considering the types of enclosure, surface texture, scale, and spatial function. Descriptive and inferential statistical comparisons and testing using quantitative and qualitative data were applied to determine participants’ performance regarding the production of spatial outliers in each system. The results showed that IVRIE was more effective than the DT system fostering a consistency of space sizes and reducing outliers.

Design and Evaluation for Immersive Virtual Reality Learning Environment: A Systematic Literature Review

“…This goal can be achieved by developing useful equipment with Virtual Reality technology to visualize 3D models [10][11][12]. Users were not just passive observers but actually participated in an immersive virtual reality learning environment as active participants which allowed learning paradigm development with exploration as their basis [13].…”

“…In recent years, more and more researchers have used Virtual Reality technology to develop educational applications such as serious games or learning environments, hoping to trigger the motivation to engage in learning [14]. Immersion and scalability in the perception of the spatial aspect of virtual environments have made Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) a significant and developing design tool [12,[15][16][17][18]. Paes et al [15] and Hou et al [19] mention that spatial awareness in Virtual Reality systems allows the users to surmount cognitive limitations, resulting in more accurate spatial connection calculations in architectural design.…”

Factors, Challenges and Strategies of Trust in BIM-Based Construction Projects: A Case Study in Malaysia

“…Three-dimensional (3D) modeling has been addressing engineering and construction challenges in recent years, particularly in construction safety and facility management [19][20][21]. Specifically, BIM is a technical creation that is used in the geometric modeling of a facility's performance and the administration of construction projects [16].…”

“…From the literature, BIM's benefits, challenges, and implementation are well discussed by researchers [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. On the contrary, research on soft factors such as trust in BIM-based construction projects is limited.…”

“…One of the challenges faced in construction projects is that only public projects require BIM. BIM implementation involves many challenges, including legal risks [21]. Small organizations may not participate in open tenders and do not want to use BIM, leading to less exposure to BIM.…”