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Virtual Possibilities: Exploring the Role of Emerging Technologies in Work and Learning Environments
(2024)
The present work aims to investigate whether virtual reality can support learning as well as vocational work environments. To this end, four studies were conducted, with the first set investigating the demands for vocational workers and the impact of input methods on participant performance. These studies laid the foundation needed to create studies incorporating virtual reality research. The second set of studies was concerned with the impact of virtual reality on learning performance as well as the influence of binaural stimuli presentation on task performance. Results of each study are discussed individually and in conjunction with one another. The four studies are further supplemented with further research conducted by the author as well as an analysis of the growing field of virtual reality-based research. The thesis closes by embedding the discussed work into the scientific landscape and tries to give an outlook for virtual reality-based use cases in the future.
Light is an essential aspect of daily life, exerting a profound influence on various physiological and behavioral processes, including circadian rhythms, alertness, cognition, mood, and behavior. Technological advances, particularly the widespread adoption of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have significantly accelerated the impact of lighting on the human experience. With the increasing global accessibility to electric and modern lighting systems, there is a pressing need to scientifically investigate the human-centered effects of lighting for the billions of people worldwide who encounter natural and electric lighting in their daily lives. Extensive interdisciplinary research across fields such as physics, engineering, psychology, medicine, business administration, and architecture has explored the biological and psychological effects of lighting, underscoring the immense potential for further advancements in this domain. Notably, innovative lighting technologies and strategies hold tremendous promise in enhancing human health, performance, and overall well-being.
Beyond physical spaces, three-dimensional virtual environments, including metaverse platforms, are becoming increasingly important. Simulated lighting in virtual spaces can have visual and non-visual effects on users. As technological progress and digitalization extend globally, more individuals will be exposed to virtual lighting scenarios. Consequently, exploring the human-centered lighting effects in virtual environments offers a compelling opportunity to improve the quality of user experiences. This thesis demonstrates the adaptability of established measurement methods from physical illumination and perception research for virtual environments.
This thesis comprises three parts. The first part reviews the current state of research on lighting and its influences on humans, examines research methods in lighting research, and identifies research gaps. The second part investigates the effects of lighting on complex emotional and behavioral constructs, specifically conflict handling. Elaborate laboratory experiments explore lighting as an independent variable, including realistic correlated color temperature (CCT) levels and enhanced CCT changes. Statistical analyses provide in-depth examination and critical discussion of the effects. The third part explores lighting in virtual spaces, considering literature, methodological approaches, and challenges. Two studies investigate visual and non-visual effects, and preferences in virtual environment design. Comparative analysis of the data yields implications for research and practice, including the interdisciplinary perspective of a novel approach called human-centric virtual lighting (HCVL).
In conclusion, this thesis comprehensively explores the impact of lighting on the human experience in both physical spaces and virtual environments. By addressing research gaps and employing contemporary methodologies, the findings contribute to our understanding of the effects of lighting on humans. Furthermore, the implications for research and practice offer valuable insights for the development of innovative lighting technologies and strategies aimed at enhancing the well-being and experiences of individuals worldwide. This work highlights the relevance of interdisciplinary research involving fields such as architecture, business management, event management, computer science, design, engineering, ergonomics, lighting research, medicine, physics, and psychology in advancing our understanding of visual and non-visual lighting effects.
The noise issue in manufacturing system is widely discussed from legal and health aspects. Regarding the existing laws and guidelines, various investigation methods are implemented in industry. The sound pressure level can be measured and reduced by using established approaches in reality. However, a straightforward and low cost approach to study noise issue using existing digital factory models is not found.
This thesis attempts to develop a novel concept for sound pressure level investigation in a virtual environment. With this, the factory planners are able to investigate the noise issue during factory design and layout planning phase.
Two computer aided tools are used in this approach: acoustic simulation and virtual reality (VR). The former enables the planner to simulate the sound pressure level by given factory layout and facility sound features. And the latter provides a visualization environment to view and explore the simulation results. The combination of these two powerful tools provides the planners a new possibility to analyze the noise in a factory.
To validate the simulations, the acoustic measurements are implemented in a real factory. Sound pressure level and sound intensity are determined respectively. Furthermore, a software tool is implemented using the introduced concept and approach. With this software, the simulation results are represented in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE).
This thesis describes the development of the approach, the measurement of sound features, the design of visualization framework, and the implementation of VR software. Based on this know-how, the industry users are able to design their own method and software for noise investigation and analysis.