Designing a Virtual Death VR Experience
Pages 328 - 332
Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) exhibitions are becoming increasingly popular for creating immersive and interactive experiences. One particular use case in research is death simulations in VR, where users can experience or explore the concept of death in a controlled environment. Death is a profound theme that offers opportunities for emotional growth, empathy, and deep reflection. This project presents Passing Electrical Storms, an innovative virtual reality art installation by Shaun Gladwell, designed to evoke the human experience of dying and an out-of-body journey through the universe. The installation combines VR, sensing technologies, and tactile feedback to create a visually stunning and emotionally immersive experience. Participants journey from a simulated cardiac arrest to brain death, moving through inner-body experiences and vast cosmic expanses, provoking contemplation on mortality and the sublime nature of the universe. This work demonstrates the potential of VR to engage users with complex emotional and existential themes, providing valuable insights for future VR design in the field of HCI.
Supplemental Material
MP4 File - Video
This video narrated by Shaun Gladwell, describes the Passing Electrical Storms project that is positioned at the intersection of art, technology, and the human experience of death. The installation combines virtual reality, tactile feedback, and sensing technologies to evoke the sensation of dying and an out-of-body journey. Participants transition from simulated cardiac arrest to cosmic expanses, contemplating mortality and the universe. This project highlights VR's potential to engage with complex emotional and existential themes, offering insights for future design in human-computer interaction.
CC BY (Attribution) to National Gallery of Victoria
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References
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Index Terms
- Designing a Virtual Death VR Experience
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October 2024
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Published: 05 October 2024
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- National Gallery of Victoria
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UbiComp '24: The 2024 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing
October 5 - 9, 2024
Melbourne VIC, Australia
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