Exploring the Gap between Real and Virtual Nature

We describe the design and preliminary findings of an experiment that aims to elucidate the cost of omitting accurate haptic and ol-factory stimulation from VR nature immersion experiences. Across four separate sessions, participants are immersed in virtual urban and forest environments, while seated both outside in real nature and indoors, with the correspondence of virtual environment to real environment and the order of presentation counterbalanced. We compare multiple restorative outcome measures between the four conditions, including physiological data (EDA and HR), subjective surveys of stress and contentment, and objective performance on tests of visual and auditory attentional resources.