Immersive Reality Capabilities of Relieving Hiraeth
Open Access
- Author:
- Mi, Erica
- Area of Honors:
- Information Sciences and Technology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Fred Fonseca, Thesis Supervisor
Edward J Glantz, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- extended reality
immersive reality
presence
telepresence
embodiment
360 video
hiraeth
memory - Abstract:
- With the rise of immersive technologies through digital worlds, such as the metaverse and mixed reality, users strive to become as absorbed in the virtual world as possible. The capabilities of the metaverse continue to push the bounds of possibility to capture the “realness” of reality in a digital space. The issue is understanding the degree to which an extended reality experience can create an immersive flow that syncs to the user’s feeling of presence enough to rival real-world experiences. Current research focuses on the use of extended reality for simulation-based memory recall or episodic memory use. However, the area that is missing is understanding how these immersive experiences can connect back to personal memories. In this study, Penn State University alumni who are novel users to extended reality, will have undergone a 360-video virtual experience. The capability to recall stories of their collegiate days looks to reflect the effectiveness of extended reality to relieve hiraeth—the longing for a home that is no longer present for them. Through the testing of immersion through 360 videos, the potential to recreate a space that is no longer present in their current reality, but holds a personal anecdote, allows for the future creation of virtual memory capsules. The challenge is the capability to rekindle the state of mind for the user that was once associated with the location and ultimately provide relief for those who feel a sense of hiraeth.