It has been noted before that the immersiveness of virtual reality (VR) allows for a deeper level of interaction that allows for a greater potential to affect the emotions of the user. Australian-based VR company Liminal VR is working with the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health to use the immersive properties of VR to engage in colour emotion research.
Traditional research into the effects of colour on the human brain and emotions has been limited to survey-type responses where a limited number of respondents rating how things like a coloured cards make them feel. This presents limitations, however, since it is impossible to properly control for all variables, as the full environment cannot be controlled.
VR offers researchers the opportunity to place people within a carefully controlled environment where only a single colour is featured, with all other contextual factors under the control of the research team.
By then end of the year, Liminal VR and Florey are hoping to have between 750 and 1,000 participants. Each participant will wear a Google Daydream headset, and will undergo a psychometric test to rate how they respond emotionally to various colours. Three different environments are presented; a cube of solid colour, a living room and a clinical waiting room, with 40 different colours tested in total.
Liminal VR has a research and development team that has been examining research in areas such as psychology, neuroscience, music, animation and videogames under the guidance of head of research Dr Edoardo Zamuner. This research has allowed the Liminal VR team to create VR experiences that have been able to change emotional and cognitive states.
Early next year, Liminal VR are planning on releasing a consumer psychology VR platform on Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive Focus. The research will be released to Liminal partners to develop new VR experiences for the platform.
VRFocus will bring you further news on Liminal VR as it becomes available.
via Mint VR