Validating the Consistency of Daylight Brightness Perception of Users in Real and Virtual Environments

To explore consistency and differences in daylighting design and research using virtual reality (VR), this study proposes a comparative method of standardised workflows and assessment processes to systematically investigate the effects of real and virtual reality environments with different daylight illumination levels (100Lux, 500Lux, and 1500Lux) on the user’s activity performance, perception feedback and physiological responses. The study results showed that participants’ reading speed and cognitive abilities in VR environments with different illumination levels were not significantly different from the real environment. In addition, the effect of VR on users’ perception of pleasure, calmness, interest and satisfaction at different illumination levels was not significant compared to real environments. The findings provide insights into the validity of VR in simulating daylight environments and its impact on user perception and performance.