If you havent, you probably recognize the experience from its portrayal in film and on television.
In these examples, the characters virtual alter-ego is physically different from who they are in the real world.
The connection between the real person and their virtual avatar is called embodiment.
Virtual embodiment provides an opportunity to explore the world from a different point of view.
And studies have shown that experiencing new perspectives in the virtual world can alter your behavior in real life.
How virtual embodiment works
Virtual embodiment isnt entirely new.
PC or console role-playing games generate asimilar effect, albeit to a lesser extent.
VR technology creates a far greater sense of immersion in the virtual world than two-dimensional screen experiences.
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Stereoscopic view of the Eiffel Tower.
Google Maps Street View in VR
These visuals are captured with360-degree photography or video cameras.
Alternatively, actual photography or video can be used in VR environments.
Touch, smell and body ownership
The sense of touch is a common form of sensory feedback.
Every time you feel your mobile vibrate in your pocket, youre interacting with haptic technology.
In VR, haptic devices simulate physical sensations that are triggered when avatars interact with virtual objects.
There are devices that can alter an avatarsweight distributionoraerodynamicsto mimic what is happening in the virtual environment.
Real physical props can also be used to introducereal-life challenges to VR sports.
Haptic sensations can even be created in mid-air.
Smell, or olfactory sense, is another important mechanism that improves engagement within a virtual world.
In addition to extra senses, VR gives the user a sense of body ownership over the virtual avatar.
Body ownership refers to the self-attribution of a (virtual) body.
This can be achieved by synchronizing multiple sensory feedback.
This is demonstrated by the famous rubber hand experiment.
Another study found thatracial bias decreaseswhen caucasians are represented by avatars that have darker compared with lighter skin.
The body shape of the avatar also affects behavior.
This suggests that the identities of virtual avatars can take precedence over our usual identities.
It feeds the freedom to explore and experiment, whether thats with a different personality, gender or physicality.
But the option has to be available in the first place if its going to have an impact.
It can influence your self-identity, perception, and behaviors both in and outside of virtual worlds.
