Panoramic 360 Image Versus 2D Video: What is the Best Inside Virtual Reality?

The paper addresses the comparison between static 360 panoramic images and 2D videos, both in virtual reality (VR) to analyze the best option to the used in Kansei method. This study uses a sample of 23 participants, who interacted with a virtual scenario using the OCULUS Quest 2, in two modalities, the 3D panorama, where it is possible to freely look around 360º and the 2D video, where participants could observe in virtual reality an animated image. Presence and the Kansei words were evaluated: agitated/calm, uncomfortable/comfortable, devitalized/revitalized, stressed/relaxed. We verified that there are significant differences between the two modalities, and the 3D panorama has higher values on average than the 2D video, it appears that these differences did not affect the Kansei results, which are similar. We can therefore conclude that with the scenario used in this study, any of the modalities can be used, despite there being an advantage for the 3D panorama. Studies with more complex scenarios, where there is important information to the left and right of the participants, must be developed to assess whether in these cases there are more striking differences in the presence and results obtained by kansei.