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Usability of Virtual Environment for Emotional Well-Being

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Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning, 9th International Conference (MIS4TEL 2019)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1007 ))

Abstract

Nature is nowadays considered the most restorative environment. A brief exposure to a (real or virtual) nature environment help people to restore cognitive and affective resources. However, (1) the precise mechanism through nature support restorative process is undervalued in literature; (2) testing the possibility that a virtual reality (VR) device can evoke similar outcomes as real nature, the usability of such devices become an important factor to consider in the research. In this study we hypothesize a moderation effect of usability of device on the relationship between perceived restorative potential (PRP) of the environment and restorative outcomes (emotional and cognitive). 114 Italian students (83% female, mean (ds) age = 22.38 (6.50)) were immersed into a virtual nature environment using a virtual reality head-set (Oculus Rift). Before and after exposure, mood (positive and negative emotions) and attentive performance were evaluated. After exposure participants were also asked to report PRP and usability of VR device experienced. Result showed that the PRP predict emotional well-being, and that this relationship is moderated by usability of VR device. Only participants that perceived a high usability report different levels of emotions depending on how much they perceived the environment restorative. Conversely, people how reported difficulties in wearing headset VR or to adapt to the environment (i.e., low level of usability) did not show difference in emotional well-being depending on PRP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Verona, Verona, VR, Italy

    Elisa Menardo, Diego Scarpanti, Margherita Pasini & Margherita Brondino

Authors
  1. Elisa Menardo
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  2. Diego Scarpanti
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  3. Margherita Pasini
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  4. Margherita Brondino
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elisa Menardo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Faculty, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Rosella Gennari

  2. Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy

    Pierpaolo Vittorini

  3. Department of Computer Science and Automation Control , University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Fernando De la Prieta

  4. Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy

    Tania Di Mascio

  5. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Informatica, Automatica e Gestionale , Sapienza Università di Roma , Rome, Italy

    Marco Temperini

  6. Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Ricardo Azambuja Silveira

  7. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin, Colombia

    Demetrio Arturo Ovalle Carranza

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Menardo, E., Scarpanti, D., Pasini, M., Brondino, M. (2020). Usability of Virtual Environment for Emotional Well-Being. In: Gennari, R., et al. Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning, 9th International Conference. MIS4TEL 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1007 . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23990-9_6

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