Designing Virtual Spaces for Cross-Cultural Engagement: A Focus on Young Adults and Regional Cultural Elements

This study is dedicated to creating a cross-cultural interactive virtual space aimed at individuals aged 18 to 25, with the goal of fostering deeper cultural understanding and interaction through unique regional cultural elements and virtual simulation technology. As globalization accelerates, virtual spaces have become a crucial platform for cross-cultural communication, yet they also present challenges such as cultural misunderstandings and superficial interactions. Through literature review, survey research, and initial user testing, this study explores how to enhance user interactivity and immersion using Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, and assesses the cultural acceptance and interactive behaviors of young people from various cultural backgrounds. Findings indicate that young individuals show significant interest in cultural exchange and social functionalities within virtual spaces, particularly within gaming and modern-style environments. However, there are discrepancies in the understanding of cultural symbols, highlighting the need for greater emphasis on cultural education and user experience in the design of cross-cultural virtual spaces. Additionally, participants prefer using lightweight and accessible devices, such as smartphones and computers, over VR headsets. The study suggests that the design of cross-cultural virtual spaces should delve into young people's cultural preferences and technology acceptance, offering diverse communication methods and rich cultural educational content. Furthermore, technology development should focus on enhancing user experience to make cross-cultural virtual spaces more inclusive and appealing to young users. The limitations of this study include its sample range and data collection methods, indicating the need for future research to encompass a broader sample and diverse data collection techniques. The findings provide new insights for virtual space design, aiming to facilitate cultural understanding and communication among young adults globally through technological innovation.