Frontiers in Virtual Reality (Mar 2023)

Immersive competence and immersive literacy: Exploring how users learn about immersive experiences

  • Anthony Steed,
  • Dan Archer,
  • Lisa Izzouzi,
  • Nels Numan,
  • Kalila Shapiro,
  • David Swapp,
  • Dinah Lammiman,
  • Robert W. Lindeman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2023.1129242
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4

Abstract

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While immersive experiences mediated through near-eye displays are still a relatively immature medium, there are millions of consumer devices in use. The level of awareness of the forms of the interface and media will vary enormously across the potential audience. Users might own personal devices or might encounter immersive systems in various venues. We introduce the term immersive competence to refer to the general practical knowledge and skills that users accumulate about how typical immersive interfaces work—the ways in which buttons are used, main locomotion techniques, etc. We then introduce the term immersive literacy to refer to awareness of how immersive interfaces are unique, when they might be appropriate, typical forms of media, etc. We sketch out how users develop competence and literacy with immersive media, and then highlight various open questions that are raised.

Keywords