Virtual Reality Helps Users Understand Their World Better

PALO ALTO, CA -- Virtual reality as a concept has entered our society's vernacular and with that our stream of consciousness. In a new study, published Nov. 30 in Frontiers in Psychology, researchers at Stanford University and the University of Oregon discovered that VR can be a powerful tool.

Case in point, the researchers found that experiencing a simulation of ocean acidification’s effects spurred a clearer understanding of the issue among people, Stanford News Service reported.

“I believe virtual reality is a powerful tool that can help the environment in so many ways,” said study co-author Jeremy Bailenson, a Thomas More Storke professor of Communication. “Changing the right minds can have a huge impact.”

With the advent of affordable consumer-grade gear from companies such as Oculus Rift, Samsung and Microsoft, potential audiences for VR are expanding far beyond Stanford’s multimillion-dollar Virtual Human Interaction Lab, the news service noted.

Working with co-author Roy Pea, the David Jacks Professor of Education and director of Stanford’s Human-Sciences and Technologies Advanced Research Institute, Bailenson and his team brought the Stanford Ocean Acidification Experience to more than 270 high school students, college students and adults.

Despite unknowns of the research, co-author Brian Perone, a graduate student at the time of the research, said he is optimistic about the value of VR in education. “When done right, these experiences can feel real and can give learners a lasting sense of connectedness,” he said.

--Image courtesy of Stanford Virtual Human Interactive Lab