Multisensory virtual reality environments in architecture: The impact of smell on presence, engagement, and user experience
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background This study investigates the effectiveness of a multisensory virtual reality system (MVRS) as a means to support the study of human-built environment interactions under multimodal conditions (visual, olfactory, and auditory). Methods The potential of MVRS for conducting multisensory experiments was tested and validated through in-depth user studies. A mixed-method approach was employed to provide quantitative and qualitative evidence. The manuscript details the results of the evaluation study, assessing key features of the proposed prototype and reporting on the identified limitations and opportunities for future studies. Results The results showed that multisensory elements can deepen participants' sense of presence, increase engagement levels, and enrich overall user experience in immersive environments. Conclusions The paper provides valuable insights into the development of multisensory VR environments in architecture, enabling future research and informing immersive research methodologies in a wider field.
Institution: The University of Sydney
Language: English
Subfield: Human-Computer Interaction
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7119525401