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Spatial Audio Cues in an Immersive Virtual Reality STEM Escape Room Game: A Comparative Study

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Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN 2024)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 2271))

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Abstract

Spatial audio is an integral aspect of virtual reality (VR) experiences as it enhances sensory immersion. Serious games often face the problem of effective player guidance and progress without disrupting gameplay. This study presents the results of a mixed-methods comparative experimental study. A system with audio cues was tested (n = 30) in a serious escape room game on a STEM subject in immersive VR. The breakout room game explored the physics of audio and sound. The introduction of audio cues improved object location and enhanced spatial auditory awareness, yet these benefits did not consistently extend to other aspects of the VR experience.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Patras, 26504, Rion, Greece

    Georgios Vontzalidis, Stylianos Mystakidis & Konstantinos Moustakas

  2. University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    Athanasios Christopoulos

Authors
  1. Georgios Vontzalidis
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  2. Stylianos Mystakidis
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  3. Athanasios Christopoulos
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  4. Konstantinos Moustakas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stylianos Mystakidis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Jule M. Krüger

  2. Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal

    Daniela Pedrosa

  3. University of Arkansas, Arkansas, AR, USA

    Dennis Beck

  4. Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Marie-Luce Bourguet

  5. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany

    Andreas Dengel

  6. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Rami Ghannam

  7. University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK

    Alan Miller

  8. BT Research Labs, Ipswich, UK

    Anasol Peña-Rios

  9. University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Jonathon Richter

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Vontzalidis, G., Mystakidis, S., Christopoulos, A., Moustakas, K. (2025). Spatial Audio Cues in an Immersive Virtual Reality STEM Escape Room Game: A Comparative Study. In: Krüger, J.M., et al. Immersive Learning Research Network. iLRN 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2271. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80475-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80475-5_23

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