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      Virtual Nature Environments Based on Fractal Geometry for Optimizing Restorative Effects

      proceedings-article
      1 , 1
      Proceedings of the 32nd International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference (HCI)
      Human Computer Interaction Conference
      4 - 6 July 2018
      Fractals, Attention Restoration Theory, Virtual Nature, Scenery Assessment, Visual perception
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            Abstract

            Exposure to nature has been shown to have psychological benefits, such as reducing mental fatigue and stress by restoring capacity in directed attention. Moreover, these effects have been found to extend to purposefully designed, virtual representations of nature. Several constructs have been proposed that underlie beneficial characteristics of nature but these constructs have been found difficult to quantify and reproduce consistently. This has made it challenging to create optimized restorative virtual nature environments. Here we present two studies to investigate the role of a more quantifiable parameter - fractals - in the restorative effects of virtual nature. Basic nature scenes featuring trees were generated based on fractal geometry. Results from both an online study including 2D images and a lab study featuring immersive VR showed a small but consistent preference for images with a fractal dimension of 2.3. Results from psychophysiological measurements in the lab study did not show clear effects of the nature scenes on recovery from stress. We discuss the implications of these findings in the light of research towards restoration and give directions for future research.

            Content

            Author and article information

            Contributors
            Conference
            July 2018
            July 2018
            : 1-11
            Affiliations
            [1 ] University of Twente

            The Netherlands
            Article
            10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.55
            57a9855a-fc18-4be7-bcb9-9a63ca9b6df1
            © Almkerk et al. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd. Proceedings of British HCI 2018. Belfast, UK.

            This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

            Proceedings of the 32nd International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference
            HCI
            32
            Belfast, UK
            4 - 6 July 2018
            Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)
            Human Computer Interaction Conference
            History
            Product

            1477-9358 BCS Learning & Development

            Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/HCI2018.55
            Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/
            Categories
            Electronic Workshops in Computing

            Applied computer science,Computer science,Security & Cryptology,Graphics & Multimedia design,General computer science,Human-computer-interaction
            Fractals,Scenery Assessment,Attention Restoration Theory,Visual perception,Virtual Nature

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