Virtual Transcendent Dream: Empowering People through Embodied Flying in Virtual Reality
Pinyao Liu, Ekaterina R. Stepanova, Alexandra Kitson, T. Schiphorst, Bernhard E. Riecke
International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 27, 2022 DOI: 10.1145/3491102.3517677 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | A VR flying interface with more self-motion cues better supported self-transcendent experience and empowerment. |
Abstract
Flying dreams have the potential to evoke a feeling of empowerment (or self-efficacy, confidence in our ability to succeed) and self-transcendent experience (STE), which have been shown to contribute to an individual’s overall well-being. However, these exceptional dreaming experiences remain difficult to induce at will. Inspired by the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) to support profound emotional experiences, we explored if a VR flying interface with more embodied self-motion cues could contribute to the benefits associated with flying dreams (i.e., STE and empowerment). Our results indicated that a flying interface with more self-motion cues indeed better supported STE and empowerment. We derived several design considerations: obscurity, extraordinary light and supportive setting. Our results contribute to the discourse around design guidelines for self-transcendence and empowerment in VR, which may further be applied to the improvement of mental well-being.