Feedback on In-flight Applications of Virtual Reality to Enhance Comfort in Future Aircraft

Abstract

The European funded project VR-HYPERSPACE (FP7-AAT-2011-1-285681 www.vr-hyperspace.eu) has made great steps towards investigating innovative ways of using virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) in-flight, specifically to enhance passenger comfort in future air cabins. VR/MR were used to create virtual environments presenting ''positive illusions'' to a passenger either through head-mounted displays (HMDs) or large-scale displays. These illusions, based on research in virtual embodiment and space perception, were developed to investigate whether altering a person's virtual body, and placing a virtual body or your physical body in alternative environments, can change a person's perception of their comfort. This paper presents a brief summary of feedback from a group of VR-enthusiasts on the first demonstrations of these comfort illusions to the wider public.