Immersive virtual nature experiences may enhance human-nature interactions and improve public healthThis conceptual paper draws from current research to propose several areas where virtual nature may be beneficial to human health and well-being. While the concern about people possibly replacing nature contact with virtual nature is acknowledged, other concerns add support to the use of virtual nature – especially immersive virtual nature (IVN) – to enhance human-nature interactions and to improve public health. These other concerns include increased urbanization and decreased accessibility to natural environments.
IVN is a form of virtual reality (VR) which generally uses a head-mounted display (HMD) to provide a continuous stream of stimuli to give the user the perception of being in and interacting with a real natural environment. Many users of VR headgear experience cyber sickness – that is, a type of motion sickness which can negatively impact the feeling of presence in virtual environments. Physical activity and IVN are sometimes combined to achieve a virtual green exercise experience. This can exacerbate cyber sickness. Other concerns regarding the use of IVN relate to different aspects of the human-nature connection, including the possibility of “a devaluation of local natural environments.” In its current state, IVN cannot give the user the whole range of experiences provided by real nature. This concern – along with the fact that “virtual nature lacks the ability to provide important ecosystem services” – indicates that the consequences of replacing authentic nature with virtual nature would be severe.
Yet, there are ways in which the use of IVN and other forms of virtual nature can be beneficial to the human-nature connection. Three major areas of possible applications are discussed: Enable, Reconnect and Augment. With “Enable,” virtual nature is added to actual nature or is used as a supplement to real nature. Adding pictures of nature to indoor settings is one example of the “Enable” approach. Settings in which this has been beneficial include health care, schools, other types of workplace, and space missions. The benefits to children of adding virtual nature to school settings include cognitive restoration and enhanced psychological states. With “Reconnect,” virtual nature is used to enhance nature connectedness – that is “an individual’s’ feeling of being emotionally connected to the natural world.” Nature videos are sometimes used for this purpose. With “Augment," virtual nature is used to “boost” interactions with real nature. Signposts in natural environments is one example of how VR can augment human-nature interactions.
Some uses of IVN and other nature VR technologies are supported by substantial research. Others, however, require more research. Guidelines for such research are offered.
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