Virtual Reality: How Much Immersion Is Enough?
2007/07/01 by Doug A. Bowman, Ryan P. McMahan · 1,351 citations
Computer Science · Psychology · #Augmented Reality Applications #Computer science #Human–computer interaction #Immersion (mathematics) #Multimedia #Operating system #Sense of presence #Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts #Virtual machine #Virtual reality #Virtual world #Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
paper · doi:10.1109/mc.2007.257
published in Computer 40(7), 36-43 (IEEE Computer Society)
openalex publication_date 2007/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Abstract
Solid evidence of virtual reality's benefits has graduated from impressive visual demonstrations to producing results in practical applications. Further, a realistic experience is no longer immersion's sole asset. Empirical studies show that various components of immersion provide other benefits - full immersion is not always necessary. The goal of immersive virtual environments (VEs) was to let the user experience a computer-generated world as if it were real - producing a sense of presence, or "being there," in the user's mind.
Cited by
- Virtual reality for intravenous placement in the emergency department—a randomized controlled trial
- Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment on MOBA Games
- Memory of virtual experiences: Role of immersion, emotion and sense of presence
- Place-based education through immersive virtual experiences — preparing biology students for the field
- Questionnaires for evaluating virtual reality: A systematic scoping review
- An adaptive virtual reality game for programming education using fuzzy cognitive maps and pedagogical models
- Manifest the Invisible: Design for Situational Awareness of Physical Environments in Virtual Reality
- The Interaction Fidelity Model: A Taxonomy to Communicate the Different Aspects of Fidelity in Virtual Reality
- Effects of Mini-Map Usage and Spatial Ability on Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Navigation
- Research on the impact of immersive virtual reality classroom on student experience and concentration
- Advancements in virtual reality for performance enhancement in combat sports: a mini-review and perspective
- The Effects of Higher Levels of Immersion on Procedure Memorization Performance and Implications for Educational Virtual Environments
- Keep It Real: a Window to Real Reality in Virtual Reality
- A systematic review of immersive virtual reality applications for higher education: Design elements, lessons learned, and research agenda
- Video Game Interfaces and Diegesis: The Impact on Experts and Novices’ Performance and Experience in Virtual Reality
- You Got It in Your Hands: Stop-Signal Modality Influences on Reactive Response Inhibition with Gaming Controls
- Assessing the Value of 3D Reconstruction in Building Construction
- Pushing the Boundaries of Immersion and Storytelling: A Technical Review of Unreal Engine
- Creating and Capturing Value with Physical-Digital Experiential Consumer Offerings
- Benefits of Taking a Virtual Field Trip in Immersive Virtual Reality: Evidence for the Immersion Principle in Multimedia Learning
- Human factors consideration in the interaction process with virtual environment
- Transforming Earth Science Education Through Immersive Experiences: Delivering on a Long Held Promise
- An Examination of a Theory of Embodied Social Presence in Virtual Worlds*
- AnywhereXR: On-the-fly 3D Environments as a Basis for Open Source Immersive Digital Twin Applications
- Teaching Math with the Help of Virtual Reality
- The Use of Virtual Reality in Psychology: A Case Study in Visual Perception. [europepmc]
- From urban planning and emergency training to Pokémon Go: applications of virtual reality GIS (VRGIS) and augmented reality GIS (ARGIS) in personal, public and environmental health. [europepmc]
- Enhancing the Ecological Validity of fMRI Memory Research Using Virtual Reality. [europepmc]
- Immersive Interactive Technologies for Positive Change: A Scoping Review and Design Considerations. [europepmc]
- Virtual Reality Clinical Research: Promises and Challenges. [europepmc]
- Presence and Cybersickness in Virtual Reality Are Negatively Related: A Review. [europepmc]
- Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application. [europepmc]
- A Framework for the Testing and Validation of Simulated Environments in Experimentation and Training. [europepmc]
- The Evaluation of Virtual Reality Fire Extinguisher Training. [europepmc]
- Improvement of the Interaction Model Aimed to Reduce the Negative Effects of Cybersickness in VR Rehab Applications. [europepmc]
- Immersive Analytics: Theory and Research Agenda. [europepmc]
- Transfer of training-Virtual reality training with augmented multisensory cues improves user experience during training and task performance in the real world. [europepmc]
- Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality vs. Standard-of-Care During Pediatric Laceration Repair. [europepmc]
- Memory for a virtual reality experience in children and adults according to image quality, emotion, and sense of presence. [europepmc]
- Impacts of Cues on Learning and Attention in Immersive 360-Degree Video: An Eye-Tracking Study. [europepmc]
- Benefits of Taking a Virtual Field Trip in Immersive Virtual Reality: Evidence for the Immersion Principle in Multimedia Learning. [europepmc]
- Enhancing learning and retention with distinctive virtual reality environments and mental context reinstatement. [europepmc]
- Virtual Reality Exercise Program Effects on Body Mass Index, Depression, Exercise Fun and Exercise Immersion in Overweight Middle-Aged Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [europepmc]
- How does interactive virtual reality enhance learning outcomes via emotional experiences? A structural equation modeling approach. [europepmc]
- A Decade in Review: A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Interventions for Emotional Disorders. [europepmc]
- The development of an immersive mixed-reality application to improve the ecological validity of eating and sensory behavior research. [europepmc]
- Eye Tracking in Virtual Reality: a Broad Review of Applications and Challenges. [europepmc]
- Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Platform to Train Stress Management Skills for a Defense Workforce: Multisite, Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. [europepmc]
- Virtual reality, face-to-face, and 2D video conferencing differently impact fatigue, creativity, flow, and decision-making in workplace dynamics. [europepmc]
- The Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Reminiscence Therapies for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review. [europepmc]
Related