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Ghanbari M, Dijst M, McCall R, Perchoux C. The use of Virtual Reality (VR) to assess the impact of geographical environments on walking and cycling: a systematic literature review. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:15. [PMID: 38851727 PMCID: PMC11162039 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00375-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geographical environments influence people's active mobility behaviors, contributing to their physical and mental health. The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in experimental research can unveil new insights into the relationship between exposure to geographic environments and active mobility behaviors. This systematic review aims to (1) identify environmental attributes investigated in relation with walking and cycling, using VR, (2) assess their impacts on active mobility behaviors and attitudes, and (3) identify research gaps, strengths and limitations in VR-based experimental research. METHODS Articles published between January 2010 and February 2022 within five databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, IEEE Xplore, and Cochrane Library) were explored using three keywords and their synonyms: Virtual Reality, Active mobility behavior, and Geographical environments. Studies focusing on indoor environments, driving simulation, disease-specific groups, non-relevant disciplines (e.g. military, emergency evacuation), VR methodology/software optimization, and those with static participants' involvement were excluded. The full protocol is available from PROSPERO (ID = CRD42022308366). RESULTS Out of 3255 articles, 18 peer-reviewed papers met the selection criteria, mostly focusing on walking (83%). Most studies used head-mounted displays (94%) and relied on convenience sampling (72% below 100 participants). Both static (33%) and dynamic (45%) environmental attributes have been investigated, with only 22% of them simultaneously in the same virtual environment. Greenness and crowd density were the most frequent attributes, rather consistently associated with emotional states and movement behaviors. Few studies have taken into account participant's previous VR experience (33%) and cybersickness (39%) while both are likely to affect an individual's perception and behavior. CONCLUSIONS Future research should explore a broader range of environmental attributes, including static and dynamic ones, as well as a more complex integration of these attributes within a single experiment to mimic the effect of realistic environments on people's active mobility behaviors and attitudes. Larger and more diverse population samples are deemed required to improve result generalizability. Despite methodological challenges, VR emerges as a promising tool to disentangle the effect of complex environments on active mobility behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Ghanbari
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Martin Dijst
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Roderick McCall
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Camille Perchoux
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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Giakoni-Ramírez F, Godoy-Cumillaf A, Espoz-Lazo S, Duclos-Bastias D, Del Val Martín P. Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11111553. [PMID: 37297694 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical activity has benefits for health, but many adolescents are inactive. However, video games such as Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) have grown in popularity as a leisure activity among young people, allowing them to manipulate objects in virtual environments increasing the practice of physical activity. The evidence indicates that the interest in physical activity through IVR is greater than in traditional methods, and different experiences have been reported. However, few studies indicate the sample evaluated, the effects found, or the IVR instruments used. Due to this, is the aim of this study is to identify the publications referring to IVR and physical activity, characterize them, and present the obtained main findings. For this, the guidelines described in the PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews were applied. After the use of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles were included. Results show evidence regarding physiological outcomes, perceptual variables, interest and enjoyment, and psychological effects regarding physical activity through IVR. Additionally, the use of different devices and their prescriptions are explored. It is concluded that there is interest from the scientific community for the practice of physical activity through IVR, as well as for its application for the maintenance of active habits. This is important as it positions IVR as a method that can be a more experiential and effective way to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frano Giakoni-Ramírez
- Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile
| | - Andrés Godoy-Cumillaf
- Grupo de Investigación en Educación Física, Salud y Calidad de Vida, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Sebastián Espoz-Lazo
- Facultad de Ciencias Para el Cuidado de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones 5090660, Chile
| | - Daniel Duclos-Bastias
- Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2374631, Chile
- IGOID Research Group, Physical Activity and Sport Science Department, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Pablo Del Val Martín
- Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile
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Oselinsky K, Spitzer AN, Yu Y, Ortega FR, Malinin LH, Curl KA, Leach H, Graham DJ. Virtual reality assessment of walking in a modifiable urban environment: a feasibility and acceptability study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5867. [PMID: 37041163 PMCID: PMC10090125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32139-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical activity is known to be one of the most health-beneficial behaviors, and salutogenic design modifications to the built environment can facilitate increased physical activity. Unfortunately, it is not often clear in advance which environmental and urban design implementations will generate increases in activities such as walking, and which will have little impact or even reduce walking. The present study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual reality (VR) model for pre-testing urban designs for their impact on walking. Using a wearable VR head-mounted display/computer, young adults (n = 40) walked freely through a large indoor gymnasium, simultaneously walking through a virtual model of an urban streetscape that was designed to be modifiable and allow for testing impacts on walking of various changes to the urban environment. The majority of participants found the experience to be acceptable: pleasant and nonaversive, and they walked freely through the VR model for approximately 20 min, on average. Using modifiable VR models to pre-test built-environment changes for their impacts on walking behavior appears to be a feasible and acceptable approach and worthy of continued research investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Oselinsky
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Amanda N Spitzer
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Yiqing Yu
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Francisco R Ortega
- Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Laura H Malinin
- Department of Design and Merchandising, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kelly A Curl
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Heather Leach
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, College of Health and Human Sciences, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Dan J Graham
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Liao B, Li X. Neighborhood Environment and Affective Walking Experience: Cluster Analysis Results of a Virtual-Environment-Based Conjoint Experiment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1396. [PMID: 36674155 PMCID: PMC9859286 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There is empirical evidence that neighborhood environment characteristics influence individuals' self-reported affective walking experiences. However, much of the research investigates residents' affective walking experiences at the neighborhood level using revealed-preference methodologies, making it difficult to identify the separate impacts of characteristics. In addition, empirical studies have not shown enough evidence that individuals from different sociodemographic backgrounds have distinct affective walking experiences. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explain how different groups of people perceive the characteristics of a neighborhood differently. To do this, this study conducts a conjoint experiment employing videos of virtual environments involving a sample of 295 respondents. Using a latent-class regression model and a multinomial logit model, we are able to determine how individuals and groups perceive neighborhood characteristics differently based on their different emotions. The results somewhat confirmed the findings of the empirical research, indicating that land use mix, connectivity, road size, open space, and greenery are related to a positive walking experience. The level of affective walking experience that individuals associate with neighborhood environmental characteristics is, however, considerably variable. Therefore, our results show that open space and road width are crucial for a walkable neighborhood since they are most helpful to individuals' subjective well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojing Liao
- Institute of Creativity and Innovation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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Liao B, Xu Y, Li X, Li J. Association between Campus Walkability and Affective Walking Experience, and the Mediating Role of Walking Attitude. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14519. [PMID: 36361398 PMCID: PMC9656797 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The walkability of a neighborhood is important for alleviating transport problems and improving the social and physical wellbeing of residents. However, it is unclear to what extent high walkability contributes to positive attitudes about walking and walking experiences on university campuses. In addition, little is known about the extent and mechanism by which walking attitude influences the affective walking experiences of students. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between campus walkability and students' affective walking experience, as well as to explain the role of walking attitude as a mediator of this relationship. To address these issues, data were collected via questionnaires at a Chinese university and analyzed by using the structural equation model. After controlling for personal characteristics, the results indicated that campus walkability had a positive direct and indirect (through walking attitude) association with affective walking experiences. Our findings have proved that walkable campuses are important because they promote positive walking attitudes and walking emotions, which are beneficial to students' mental health and subjective wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojing Liao
- Institute of Creativity and Innovation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ji Li
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
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Delbes L, Mascret N, Goulon C, Montagne G. Validation of an immersive virtual reality device accepted by seniors that preserves the adaptive behavior produced in the real world. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:917486. [PMID: 36118569 PMCID: PMC9479106 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.917486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Falls in the elderly are a major societal issue. Virtual reality appears as a relevant tool to propose gait training programs to prevent the occurrence of falls. The use of a head-mounted display allows overground walking during fully immersive virtual training sessions. Our long-term ambition is to develop gait training programs with a head-mounted display to propose enjoyable and personalized training content for the elderly. Before proposing these programs, several methodological precautions must be taken. The first concerns the supposed similarity of the adaptive behavior produced in the real world and in virtual reality. The second concerns the acceptance of the virtual reality device before and after use. Twenty older adults performed a locomotor pointing task in three conditions including a real-world condition, a virtual-world condition consisting in a replica of the real-world condition, and a virtual condition in which the locomotor pointing task was performed in a different context. From feet positions in relation to the position of a target, gait adaptability behavior was investigated. In line with previous studies, step adjustments (needed and produced) were investigated through a combination of inter-trial and trial-by-trial analyses. The results highlighted that participants adopted the same gait adaptability behavior whatever the type of environment (real vs. virtual). Gait analyses suggested the use of a generic control mechanism based on information-movement coupling. We also demonstrated that older adults accepted the virtual reality device before and after use. With these methodological locks removed, it is now possible to design training programs in virtual reality to prevent falls in the elderly.
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Li H, Dong W, Wang Z, Chen N, Wu J, Wang G, Jiang T. Effect of a Virtual Reality-Based Restorative Environment on the Emotional and Cognitive Recovery of Individuals with Mild-to-Moderate Anxiety and Depression. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179053. [PMID: 34501643 PMCID: PMC8430968 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In this study, restorative environment theory and virtual reality (VR) technology were combined to build different 3D dynamic VR interactive scenes. We discuss the effects of a VR restorative environment on the emotional and cognitive recovery of individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. First, we built a VR restorative garden scene, divided into four areas: forest, lawn, horticultural planting, and water features. The scene was verified to have a good recovery effect in 26 participants. Then, 195 participants with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression were selected as experimental subjects. Through psychological testing and EMG (Electromyography) and EEG (Electroencephalography) data feedback, we further explored the differences in the sense of presence in VR restorative scenes and their effect on individual emotional and cognitive recovery. The results showed that (1) both the restorative environment images and the VR scenes had a healing effect (the reduction in negative emotions and the recovery of positive emotions and cognition), with no difference in the subjective feeling of recovery among the different scenes, but the recovery score of the VR urban environment was higher than that of the natural environment (differing from the results in real environments); (2) a high sense of presence can be experienced in different VR scenes, and interactive activities in VR scenes can provide a great presence experience; (3) the recovery effects of VR restorative environment on emotion and self-efficacy are realized through the presence of VR scenes; (4) a VR restorative environment is helpful for the emotional improvement and cognitive recovery of individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. VR urban scenes also have good recovery effects. In terms of cognitive recovery, self-efficacy improved significantly. In addition, from the perspective of EEG indicators, the VR restorative scene experience activated the prefrontal lobe, which is conducive to cognitive recovery in individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression. In terms of emotional improvement, negative emotions were significantly reduced in the different VR scene groups. In conclusion, we further explored ways to help individuals with mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression, in order to promote the development and application of mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqidi Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (H.L.); (W.D.); (N.C.); (G.W.)
| | - Wenyi Dong
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (H.L.); (W.D.); (N.C.); (G.W.)
| | - Zhimeng Wang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.W.); (T.J.)
| | - Nuo Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (H.L.); (W.D.); (N.C.); (G.W.)
| | - Jianping Wu
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (H.L.); (W.D.); (N.C.); (G.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-139-1011-6535
| | - Guangxin Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (H.L.); (W.D.); (N.C.); (G.W.)
| | - Ting Jiang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (Z.W.); (T.J.)
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Perceived Safety and Pedestrian Performance in Pedestrian Priority Streets (PPSs) in Seoul, Korea: A Virtual Reality Experiment and Trace Mapping. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052501. [PMID: 33802511 PMCID: PMC7967633 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pedestrian Priority Street (PPS) project, launched to encourage safer and more convenient walking by improving the inferior pedestrian environment on narrow streets without sidewalks, is based on Monderman’s shared space concept. Similar to the shared space approach, PPS aims for mutual consideration between pedestrians and drivers and strives to create a pedestrian-friendly environment, but the project relies on a unique road surface design. Considering the two main goals of the PPS project, this study investigated how subjective safety and pedestrians’ movements differed by design types. To analyze safety perception, ordered Logit regression and post-hoc interviews were conducted with visual assessment survey using recorded VR (virtual reality) videos. Next, trace mapping and analysis were performed based on the video recordings to measure the degree of free walking. The results found that pedestrians perceived higher safety level in PPSs than in general back road. Further, the pedestrians moved more freely in the street with an integrated design. In other types, which suggested a pedestrian zone at the roadside, there was not much difference in behavior from the general back roads. Thus, the design principle of PPS, which does not set a boundary between pedestrian and vehicle area, should be observed to lead to behavioral changes in pedestrians.
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Weijs-Perrée M, Dane G, van den Berg P. Editorial for the Special Issue on "Experiencing the City: The Relation between Urban Design and People's Well-Being". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052485. [PMID: 33802382 PMCID: PMC7967620 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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