@inbook{10.1145/3450741.3465248,
author = {Li, Jingyi and Ma, Yong and Li, Puzhen and Butz, Andreas},
title = {A Journey Through Nature: Exploring Virtual Restorative Environments as a Means to Relax in Confined Spaces},
year = {2021},
isbn = {9781450383769},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {New York, NY, USA},
url = {https://doi-org.emedien.ub.uni-muenchen.de/10.1145/3450741.3465248},
abstract = { Virtual Reality (VR) technologies can counteract stress or fatigue and restore attention,
e.g., by recreating the beauty of nature in a Virtual Restorative Environment (VRE).
This has gained additional relevance in the current pandemic: When facing the stress
of physical restrictions and a limited activity space, how can VR technologies provide
the individual experience of being away? We created a VRE that can be used during
trips in automated cars using a captured natural environment and simulated artifacts
that communicate vehicle information during VR relaxation. In a user study (N = 21),
we compared the proposed in-car VRE to simply closing the eyes. We found that the
VRE strongly improved the subjective ratings of mood and slightly increased attentional
capacity and the objectively measured performance in a working memory test. Our results
provide a concrete starting point for exploring calming VR experiences for future
passengers, but also users at home. },
booktitle = {Creativity and Cognition},
articleno = {22},
numpages = {9}
}