Abstract
Johnson, Eric Arthur. M.S., Purdue University, August, 2010. A Study of the Effects of Immersion on Short-term Spatial Memory. Major Professor: Nicoletta Adamo-Villani. The goal of the study was to determine whether the level of immersion of a virtual environment has a significant effect on the user’s short term spatial memory. Two previous virtual environment development projects are reviewed: the Muscatatuck Virtual Tour and the 21st Century World Future City (Adamo- Villani, et al. 2009, 2010)). These projects show the viability of producing a virtual environment and a partially immersive, low-cost virtual reality system ,i.e. a Fish- Tank system (The system was used for the purpose of the study). Previous research is analyzed to demonstrate the viability of using virtual reality as a testing tool for measuring the effects of immersion on cognitive processes. Results of the study show that there is a significant difference in spatial memory when the level of immersion changes.
Keywords
Fish-tank, virtual reality, 3d environments, real-time, 3d for web, spatial memory, immersion
Date of this Version
8-6-2010
Department
Computer Graphics Technology
Department Head
James L. Mohler
Month of Graduation
August
Year of Graduation
2010
Degree
Master of Science
Head of Graduate Program
James L. Mohler
Advisor 1 or Chair of Committee
Nicoletta Adamo-Villani
Advisor 2
LaVerne Abe Harris
Advisor 3
Bedrich Benes