Measuring Presence in a Virtual Environment of the Aalborg University Multisensory Experience Laboratory | An experimentative prototype of a new Aalborg University VR Hub

Measuring Presence in a Virtual Environment of the Aalborg University Multisensory Experience Laboratory | An experimentative prototype of a new Aalborg University VR Hub.

Elmazi, Dina

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2025

2025-05-26

27

This thesis documents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a virtual reality (VR) version of the Multisensory Experience Laboratory at Aalborg University Copenhagen. The goal was to create a “digital twin” as a prototype hub for future VR experiences at AAU under the AAUverse umbrella. The hub responds to growing interest in extended reality (XR) and to student reports that current AAU app solutions can be confusing. The thesis explains key concepts such as XR and VR, virtual environments, immersion (how absorbing an experience feels), and presence (the sense of “being there”). It outlines design choices, methods, and a framework for the digital twin, as well as early iterations of the AAUverse Hub user interface (UI). Implementation involved integrating scripts, a VR engine, and other components to run the hub and environment. We conducted an initial usability test followed by a presence test. Before iterations, the System Usability Scale (SUS) score was 67.5, indicating acceptable usability with room for improvement. Based on feedback from participants with relevant technical backgrounds in UI and UX, we refined the system. In the subsequent presence test, we assessed whether the digital twin produced a sense of presence. The null hypothesis could not be rejected, due in part to a small sample and low self-reported presence in the primary test. The prototype thus shows potential as a hub but needs further development to strengthen presence.

Denne afhandling beskriver, hvordan vi designede, implementerede og evaluerede en virtuel virkelighed (VR)-udgave af Multisensory Experience Laboratory på Aalborg Universitet København. Formålet var at skabe en “digital tvilling” som en prototype-hub for fremtidige VR-oplevelser på AAU under navnet AAUverse. Behovet udspringer af en voksende interesse for udvidet virkelighed (XR) og af, at nuværende AAU-apps ofte opleves som forvirrende for studerende. Afhandlingen forklarer centrale begreber som XR og VR, virtuelle miljøer, immersion (hvor opslugende en oplevelse er) og presence (følelsen af at “være der”). Vi gennemgår designovervejelser, metode og rammeværk for den digitale tvilling samt de første udgaver af AAUverse-hubbens brugergrænseflade (UI). Implementeringen omfattede scripts, en VR-motor og andre komponenter for at få hub og miljø til at køre. Vi gennemførte først en brugervenlighedstest og derefter en presence-test. Før iterationer gav System Usability Scale (SUS) en score på 67,5, hvilket tyder på acceptabel brugbarhed med plads til forbedringer. På baggrund af feedback fra deltagere med relevant teknisk baggrund inden for UI og UX blev systemet forbedret. I den efterfølgende presence-test undersøgte vi, om den digitale tvilling gav en oplevelse af tilstedeværelse. Nulhypotesen kunne ikke afvises, blandt andet på grund af et lille antal deltagere og lav selvrapporteret tilstedeværelse i den primære test. Prototypen viser dermed potentiale som hub, men kræver yderligere udvikling for at styrke presence.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Presence ; VR ; Virtual Reality ; XR ; Extended Reality ; Immersive Tendencies ; AAUverse

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