Six Elements of Active VR

Immersion

Being surrounded by images, sound and other stimuli that create a believable environment.

Immersion is the perception that a digital environment really exists. Immersive environments draw the user into a computer-generated world with engrossing visual and auditory stimulation, lifelike AI, realistic physics, advanced lighting, haptics, and everything that makes a world come alive. When done right, VR experiences surround the players’ senses so the environment is believable and responsive.

Presence

Feeling or sense of actually existing within an environment.

Presence is the perception that you exist within a digital environment. It is truly achieved when the technology fades away and the player reacts to virtual stimuli as they would non-virtual. Contributing factors to Presence include wide field-of-view, crystal clear image, fast and precise tracking, and no visual anomalies.

Embodiment

Having a virtual body or avatar that interacts naturally with the environment.

Embodiment is the perception that you are physically interacting with a digital environment. Avatar embodiment eliminates discontinuity by providing a virtual body that aligns with your real body, using precise one-to-one tracking of your every move, and emotes just as realistically as you do.

Free Movement

Being completely unbounded from physical restrictions in the outside world.

Free Movement is the perception that you are physically and virtually free to explore a digital environment, unrestrained. Feeling transported and ready to explore requires 360° mobility. Users shouldn’t be bounded by chairs or wires. They should be free to move as naturally as in real life - with total freedom of motion.

Shared Space

Playing and interacting with others in shared digital space.

Shared Space is the perception that you are naturally communicating with other people in a digital environement. Interact and socialize together, fight missions together, race together, play together, and otherwise share virtual experiences, together.

Dynamic Spectating

Being able to view and interact with people playing in VR from the outside world.

Dynamic Spectating is the perception that you are viewing a VR user's dynamic experience as the audience. It's exciting to watch people play and explore in VR, just as an audience would view theatre or film productions. This is where player, user, actor, and audience start to blend boundaries in a new medium.