From technology to communication: Psycho-social issues in developing virtual environments

Virtual reality (VR) can be considered as the leading edge of a general evolution of present communication interfaces, one whose main characteristic is the full immersion of the human sensorimotor channels into a vivid and global communication experience. By analyzing VR as a communication tool this paper tries to outline a psycho-social framework for the development and tuning of VR systems. In particular, the author identifies two key characteristics of satisfying virtual environments: disappearance of mediation - a level of experience where both the VR system and the physical environment disappear from the user's phenomenal awareness - and the sense of community developed by interaction. Social and psychological consequences of this approach are discussed, both for single- and multi-user virtual worlds.