Understanding the Link Between Virtual Reality Immersion and Sensory Integration: Recognizing Opportunity- and Risk Potential for School-Age Users, and How to Address Them
Keywords:
higher education, virtual reality immersion, VR and schoolchildren, VR in education, child development, identity development, sensory integration, sensory perception, disembodiment, VR use recommendations, sensory intervention strategies, VR app descriptors, VR risk potentialAbstract
Sensory integration is central to perceptual processing of real-world stimuli, and thus to understanding how virtual reality (VR) “tricks” the senses. Based on literature review and expert-interviews, we discussed (1) how sensory functions relate to body self-image, (2) how sensory experiences affect identity-development, and (3) what opportunities and risks VR-immersion presents for schoolchildren. Results strongly advise VR-users ’ development-age should be considered before VR-immersion, to minimize development-disruption potential. This mandates, (i) age-appropriate VR-software selection, based on immersion-criteria descriptors, and (ii) application of detailed use-recommendations, including sensory-intervention strategies. Both, descriptors and use-recommendations are introduced here, and support safe VR-use with schoolchildren.
