Hsi-Yuan Chu
MFA Digital Animation and Interactive Media, 2023

Project Description:
Virtual Reality (VR) is now commonly used in fields such as psychological treatment and industrial training. The reason that VR is effective in those fields is the sense of Presence VR can provide. Due to the unique design challenges posed by VR and the fact that this technology is still in its early stage of development, there are very few UX design principles regarding enhancing users' sense of Presence in a VR experience. To help users achieve the sense of Presence, intentional design decisions need to be made. In this research, I conducted a case study on Virtual Field Lab to investigate ways to maintain users' sense of Presence by guiding their attention and helping them perceive possible interactions through the design of diegetic cues. 

Committee Members:
Maria Palazzi, Matt Lewis, Jeremy Patterson

Keywords:
Virtual Reality, VR, Presence, Immersion, User experience research