Virtual Nature

Abstract

DANIEL LEVI is an environmental psychologist. He is a professor in the Psychology and Human Development Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California. His research areas include the impact of technological change on work and the relationship between technology and environmental issues. SARA KOCHER is a landscape planner and environmental psychologist. She works as a planning consultant with Crawford, Multari, Clark and Mohr in San Luis Obispo, California. Her areas of interest include visual resource assessment, geographical information systems, and public attitude surveys.In the not so distant future, computer technology will allow most people to experience virtual environments. By wearing electronic goggles, headsets, gloves, and shoes, people will be able to experience being in a computergenerated place and perform simulated activities. The use of this technology will allow people a new opportunity for experiencing nature-virtual nature. The potential widespread use of virtual nature raises three important 203

The effect of contact with natural environments on positive and negative affect: A meta-analysis

“…First, much of the research conducted on the beneficial effects of nature has been done using laboratory simulations of nature, and it has been argued that nature simulations can serve as effective substitutes for actual exposure to nature (Levi & Kocher, 1999). However, recent research comparing the effects of virtual nature to real nature indicates higher levels of affective well-being in real nature conditions when compared to virtual nature conditions (e.g.…”

Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application

“…Moreover, we should bear in mind Levi and Kocher's warning: "the problem with virtual nature-like the problem with plastic trees-is that the value of nature is more than the experiential and recreational benefits it provides to people. Nature provides a variety of benefits beyond human's immediate experience; nature exists and has value separate from human beings" [15] (p. 224). In addition, outdoor nature contact offers many additional benefits which to date cannot be incorporated in VR, such as, for example, enhanced immunity from exposure to microbiomes and phytoncides from trees (see [52]).…”

“…The concept of technological nature has received increased attention in the research community. In particular, attention has been directed, often with some concerns, towards so-called virtual nature [15] and especially immersive virtual environments technology [16]. The combination of these two concepts has been defined as immersive virtual nature (IVN) [17], which combines visual and auditory stimuli to create an immersive nature experience.…”

“…The combination of these two concepts has been defined as immersive virtual nature (IVN) [17], which combines visual and auditory stimuli to create an immersive nature experience. In 1999, when the commercial availability of IVN technology was seen as imminent, Levi and Kocher [15] investigated the potential impact of this technology on society. They found that while IVN may have the advantage of bringing nature to people, as well as increasing people's support for national natural reserves, this may come at the cost of a devaluation of local natural environments.…”

Gamers Like It Green: The Significance of Vegetation in Online Gaming

“…Indeed, these novel human-nature technology-based relationships use devices that can mediate, augment, or simulate the natural world, and then provide symbolic experiences of nature (also called vicarious experiences [Kellert, 1996]). However, compared to known effects of encountering real nature (Levi & Kocher, 1999), the range of technologically mediated experiences of nature has just begun to be explored (Kahn, 2011;Kahn et al, 2009). Kahn's research suggests that nature as depicted on a television monitor has some, but not all, of the effects of live nature.…”