Sense of Presence in Desktop VR

This chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of the sense of presence in virtual reality, emphasizing navigational experience and comparing the presence profile of MaxWhere desktop VR with other VR systems. It thoroughly investigates theoretical foundations, technological and human factors influencing presence, measurement tools, and experimental findings related to the sense of presence. The theoretical section offers foundational definitions of presence, exploring its relationship with immersion. Discussion on technological and human factors influencing presence includes recent results highlighting the correlation between the sense of presence and task performance in VR. The chapter introduces commonly used measurement tools and methods, such as the IPQ (Igroup Presence Questionnaire), while the navigational experience was assessed through a 10-point Likert scale based on five statements. The study included 31 individuals (mean age 20.5 years, SD: 3.4). The results support the hypothesis that navigational experience correlates with a stronger sense of presence. In this examination, participants were divided into two groups based on their proficiency with MaxWhere VR: distinguishing between novices and experienced users. Novices perceived the virtual environment as less realistic compared to experienced users. Lastly, a comparison of the presence profile between MaxWhere desktop VR and other VR systems extends and complements the earlier findings.