Head-Mounted Displays

—Watching 360 • videos using Head-Mounted Display (HMD) allows users to only see a part of the whole 360 • video. With this feature, tiled videos become a potential solution for aggressively reducing the required bandwidth for 360 • videos, which make 360 • video streaming over cellular networks possible. In this paper, we design several experiments for quantifying the performance of 360 • video streaming over a real cellular network on our campus. In particular, we investigate diverse impacts of tile streaming over 4G networks, such as the coding efficiency, the potential of saving bandwidth, and the number of the supportable clients. Our experiments make several interesting findings, for example, (i) only streaming the tiles viewed by the viewer achieves bitrate reduction by up to 80%, and (ii) the coding efficiency of 3x3 tiled videos may be higher than non-tiled videos at higher bitrates. Our work will stimulate more studies in the emerging area of mobile AR/VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality) over 4G networks.

Virtual reality is a concept of realistic and immersive simulation of a 3D-based environment generated by an interactive software and hardware. They can be displayed either on a computer monitor, a projector screen, or with a virtual reality headset (HMD). The first commercial headset was released in the 1990s by Sega. Though it was not very successful, it was the first relevant product to be introduced to the public. Ever since, there has been a lot of research done on virtual reality products, the most relevant being Oculus.

Medical images are still not seamlessly integrated into surgical interventions and, thus, remain separated from the surgical procedure. Surgeons need to cognitively relate 2-dimensional sectional images to the 3- dimensional (3D) during the actual intervention. MR applications simulate 3D images and reduce the offset between working space and visualization allowing for improved spatial-visual approximation of patient and image. The paper evaluates the application of a mixed reality (MR) headmounted display (HMD) for the visualization of anatomical structures in complex visceral-surgical interventions. Authors are I.M. Sauer, M. Queisner, P. Tang, S. Moosburner, O. Hoepfner, R. Horner, R. Lohmann and J. Pratschke.

A scheme for organizing head-mounted displays based primarily on image configuration and secondarily on the display/optics and head-mounted sensor(s) is offered as a way to clarify design and human interface issues. These attributes are linked to field-of-view, image content and device applications. An argument is made for discarding confusing and outdated concepts. This organization of a diverse set of display devices is one step toward an eventual handbook of head-mounted displays.

360° videos and Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) are geing increasingly popular. However, streaming 360° videos to HMDs is challenging. is is because only video content in viewers' Field-of-Views (FoVs) are rendered, and thus sending complete 360° videos wastes resources, including network bandwidth, storage space, and processing power. Optimizing the 360° video streaming to HMDs is, however, highly data and viewer dependent, and thus dictates real datasets. However, to our best knowledge, such datasets are not available in the literature. In this paper, we present our datasets of both content data (such as image saliency maps and motion maps derived from 360° videos) and sensory data (such as viewer head positions and orientations derived from HMD sensors). We put extra eorts to align the content and sensory data using the timestamps in the raw log les. e resulting datasets can be used by researchers, engineers, and hobbyists to either optimize existing 360° video streaming applications (like rate-distortion optimization) and novel applications (like crowd-driven camera movements). We believe that our datasets will stimulate more research activities along this exciting new research direction.

In recent years, the rapid development of technologies of augmented and virtual reality created new opportunities for the improvement and modernization of geography teaching. Numerous studies indicated that these technologies could positively affect learning outcomes and student motivation. However, actual use in schools is limited, and integration is hampered by several open issues, as well as there is a lack of examples of good practice. Based on a literature review, the results of two conducted surveys in the Republic of Serbia (in which 106 teachers and 48 students of geography took part), and an analysis of the situation, a SWOT analysis was performed to highlight the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats of including augmented and virtual reality in geography teaching and learning at all levels of education. The paper also included the proposal of integration.

Ubrzan razvoj tehnologija proširene (engl. Augmented reality - AR) i virtuelne (engl. Virtual reality - VR) realnosti u poslednjih nekoliko godina stvorio je nove mogućnosti za unapređenje i osavremenjavanje nastave geografije. Brojna istraživanja ukazuju da ove tehnologije mogu pozitivno uticati na ishode učenja i motivisanost učenika. Međutim, primena u školama je ograničena i integracija je otežana zbog postojanja više otvorenih pitanja, kao i nedostatka primera dobre prakse. Na osnovu pregleda literature, rezultata dva istraživanja sprovedena u Republici Srbiji (u kojima je učestvovalo 106 nastavnika i 48 studenata geografije) i analizom stanja urađena je SWOT analiza kako bi se istakle prednosti i slabosti, kao i mogućnosti i opasnosti uključivanja proširene i virtuelne realnosti u nastavu i učenje geografije na svim nivoima obrazovanja. U radu je naveden i predlog integracije.

How to cite:

Stojšić, I., Ivkov-Džigurski, A., Đukičin Vučković, S. & Maričić, O. (2019). Primena proširene i virtuelne realnosti u nastavi geografije: SWOT analiza i predlog integracije [The use of augmented and virtual reality for geography teaching: Swot analysis and integration proposal]. In É. Borsos, R. Horák, C. Kovács, & Z. Námesztovszki (Eds.), Book of selected papers of the Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty´s scientific conferences (Mobility) - 8th International Methodological Conference (pp. 509-523). Subotica, Republic of Serbia: Univesity of Novi Sad, Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty. Retrieved from http://magister.uns.ac.rs/files/kiadvanyok/konf2019/ConfSubotica2019.pdf

Virtual reality represents simulated three-dimensional environment created by hardware and software, which providing realistic experience and possibility of interaction to the end-user. Benefits provided by immersive virtual reality in educational setting were recognised in the past decades, however mass application was left out due to the lack of development and high price. Intensive development of new platforms and virtual reality devices in the last few years started up with Oculus Rift, and subsequently accelerated in the year 2014 by occurrence of Google Cardboard. Nowadays, for the first time in history, immersive virtual reality is available to millions of people. In the mid 2015 Google commenced developing Expeditions Pioneer Program aiming to massively utilise the Google Cardboard platform in education. Expeditions and other VR apps can enhance geography teaching and learning. Realistic experience acquired by utilisation of virtual reality in teaching process significantly overcome possibilities provided by images and illustrations in the textbook. Besides literature review on usage of virtual reality in education this paper presents suggestion of VR mobile apps that can be used together with the Google Cardboard head mounted displays (HMDs) in geography classes, thereby emphasising advantages and disadvantages as well as possible obstacles which may occur in introducing the immersive virtual reality in the educational process.

Immersive virtual reality (VR) emerges as a promising research and clinical tool. However, several studies suggest that VR induced adverse symptoms and effects (VRISE) may undermine the health and safety standards, and the reliability of the scientific results. In the current literature review, the technical reasons for the adverse symptomatology are investigated to provide suggestions and technological knowledge for the implementation of VR head-mounted display (HMD) systems in cognitive neuroscience. The technological systematic literature indicated features pertinent to display, sound, motion tracking, navigation, ergonomic interactions, user experience, and computer hardware that should be considered by the researchers. Subsequently, a meta-analysis of 44 neuroscientific or neuropsychological studies involving VR HMD systems was performed. The meta-analysis of the VR studies demonstrated that new generation HMDs induced significantly less VRISE and marginally fewer dropouts. Importantly, the commercial versions of the new generation HMDs with ergonomic interactions had zero incidents of adverse symptomatology and dropouts. HMDs equivalent to or greater than the commercial versions of contemporary HMDs accompanied with ergonomic interactions are suitable for implementation in cognitive neuroscience. In conclusion, researchers' technological competency, along with meticulous methods and reports pertinent to software, hardware, and VRISE, are paramount to ensure the health and safety standards and the reliability of neuroscientific results.

Surge popularity of Head-Mounted Display (HMD) in recent years has made it a reliable, yet easy to get wearable device. Its accurate head tracking feature and superb immersion experience has made HMD an excellent choice for telepresence application. This project attempts to implement a telepresence system using several HMD types, a KUKA Arm Robot, and a stereo wide-angle camera. Unity was used as the application platform and a communication interface was built to facilitate movement synchronization between the HMD and the robot.

As latency is always an important factor in any interactive computer systems, including telepresence, latency measurement and investigation was attempted. While the initial ambition of having an ultra-low latency system was considered not met, several factors affecting the latency was suggested. Time warping technique utilizing the wide-angle camera was implemented and successfully deemed to bring down the perceived latency of the system, improving the overall user experience.

We introduce SpaceWalk, an experimental approach to allow a person to move around a small room while wearing a Head Mounted Display. The goal is to get immersed users in everyday settings out of their seats and naturally experiencing movement within the simulation. SpaceWalk integrates a wireless solution around commodity equipment and requires no calibration by the user. This allows a low encumbrance full-body immersion in virtual reality while walking around living-room sized real-world spaces. The platform combines a commodity Head Mounted Display (Oculus Rift), with a depth-based camera (Kinect2) capturing movement of body and limbs within the space. A tablet computer, carried in a backpack, runs commodity VR software (Unity) with our own extensions that integrate the components. A brief survey of the literature demonstrates a gap in that other systems do neither allow a person’s body to be routinely tracked without calibration, or movement around the space without the encumbrance of wires. The proposed full body immersive virtual reality platform opens the door to Virtual Reality in small environments, such as people’s homes, that is compelling, easy to setup and use. After half a century, VR is coming of age, yet routine and unencumbered movement still needs to be achieved. This paper offers a method for doing so. Its contribution is to make Virtual Reality accessible to a wider group of users who do not have access to a professional virtual reality facility. In doing so it may help to unlock new paradigms for work, learning and entertainment.

Based on case studies in minimally invasive surgery, the paper investigates how head-mounted displays (HMDs) transform action and perception in the operating theater. In particular, it discusses the methods and addresses the obstacles that are linked to the attempt to eliminate the divide between vision and visualization by augmenting the surgeon’s field of view with images. Firstly, it analyzes how HMDs change the way images are integrated into the surgical workflow by looking at the modalities of image production, transmission, and reception of HMDs. Secondly, it examines how HMDs change where and in which situations images are used by looking at screen architectures in minimally invasive surgery. Thirdly, it discusses the impact of HMD-based practice on action, perception, and decision-making, by examining how HMDs challenge the existing techniques and routines of surgical practice and, therefore, call for a new type of image and application-based expertise.

Head-mounted displays (HMDs) offer immersion and binocular disparity. This study investigated whether an HMD yields better object-alignment performance than a conventional monitor in virtual environments that are rich in pictorial depth cues. To determine the effects of immersion and disparity separately, three hardware setups were compared: 1) a conventional computer monitor, yielding low immersion, 2) an HMD with binocular-vision settings (HMD stereo), and 3) an HMD with the same image presented to both eyes (HMD mono). Two virtual environments were used: a street environment in which two cars had to be aligned (target distance of about 15 m) and an office environment in which two books had to be aligned (target distance of about 0.7 m, at which binocular depth cues were expected to be important). Twenty males (mean age = 21.2, SD age = 1.6) each completed 10 object-alignment trials for each of the six conditions. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in object-alignment performance between the three hardware setups. A self-report questionnaire showed that participants felt more involved in the virtual environment and experienced more oculomotor discomfort with the HMD than with the monitor.

Die gegenwärtige Chirurgie steht vor der Herausforderung, ein zunehmend komplexes Gefüge bildbasierter Technologien in die Vorbereitung und Durchführung von Operationen zu integrieren. Bedingt durch die jüngere Technikentwicklung werden digitale Bilder heute zunehmend in mobile, sensorgesteuerte und augmentierende Visualisierungssysteme integriert und drei- oder vierdimensional dargestellt. Ein grundlegender Aspekt ist dabei die Verknüpfung von Bildgebung und Operationssitus: Um die Bildgebung in Diagnosen und Handlungen zu übersetzen, müssen Chirurgen in der Lage sein, Bildinformationen und Patient miteinander in Beziehung zu setzen. Am Beispiel von Mixed und Augmented Reality diskutiert der Beitrag das Potenzial und die Risiken der Anwendung in der chirurgischen Intervention. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die Fragen, wie sich die Art und Weise verändert, Körpervolumen darzustellen und welche Anpassungen chirurgischer Sehweisen und Arbeitsabläufe dafür notwendig sind.

Im Gegensatz zu opaken Bildflächen verändert sich das Gezeigte bei transparenten Bildern in Abhängigkeit vom Standpunkt des Betrachters. Auf diesem Darstellungsprinzip basieren vor allem bildschirmbasierte Praktiken, die Formen der Beobachtung auch jenseits eines genuin Bildlichen integrieren. Dazu gehören insbesondere sogenannte Head-Mounted Displays, etwa Smartglasses wie Microsofts Hololens, aber auch Helmet Displays von Kampfpiloten oder Kontaktlinsendisplays. Sie zeichnen sich allesamt durch eine Bildfläche aus, die fortwährend zwischen Transparenz und Opazität oszilliert. Die Überlagerung des natürlichen Sichtfelds des Betrachters mit visuellen Darstellungen suggeriert einerseits ein Durchschauen im wörtlichen Sinne von perspicere und entspricht andererseits dem Blick auf ein Artefakt. Diese Wahrnehmungssituation korrespondiert mit einem Bildverständnis, bei dem das Bild dem Betrachter nicht mehr als opake Fläche gegenüber tritt, das seine Materialität zu verschleiern sucht, sondern im Gegenteil das, was hinter ihm liegt ebenso zu sehen gibt. Anschauung und Darstellung treten hier in eine hybride Gemeinschaft. Am Beispiel der medialen Produktions- und Rezeptionsbedingungen der Helmdisplays von PilotInnen des Kampfflugzeugs von Typ "Eurofighter Typhoon" untersucht der Beitrag die Verschränkung von Formen der Beobachtung und Repräsentation. Dabei soll gezeigt werden, wie transparente Bildschirme eine synthetische Form des Sehens etablieren, in der Visio und Visualisierung technisch und funktional zusammenfallen.

In Virtual Reality (VR), images of persons are displayed closer to the viewer than ever before. Therefore, images of strangers can come much closer into the experiences and private sphere then in accustomed socio- cultural interactions or in “conventional” moving images. Each micro movement of the face is visible in focus, allowing to read the face of a virtual person in greater detail than ever permitted in conventional distances in the real non-virtual reality.

The sensation of immersion in VR changes the way the images are depicted compared to regular moving images. The bodily representations of a virtual person differ depending on the distance of the image- framing. Thus distance affects how vision and sensorimotor interaction are anchored into somatic, mental and neural processes – into an embodied perception. Accordingly, images not only affect the visual and kinesthetic imagery but also influence the way of thinking, analyzing and understanding something or someone, and VR adds a new dimension to all those cognitive processes by enabling extreme close-ups impossible on a common screen. An unconventional immersive close-up of a person can intimidate through the unfamiliar, extremely short interpersonal distance, as the speaker is just too close to be true.

Virtual reality has grown rapidly over the past decade, yet visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), continues to affect the usability of this technology. Aside from medicine, physical hand-eye-coordination tasks have been found to be effective in mitigating symptoms of VIMS, however the need for equipment outside of virtual reality limits the usefulness of these mitigation techniques. In this study, 21 participants were sickened via a virtual obstacle course and used one of two mitigation techniques. The first, natural decay, is simply waiting outside the virtual environment (VE) for symptoms to subside; the other was a virtual peg-in-hole task, performed in the VE with a gamepad. A paired samples t-test confirmed that the virtual obstacle course induced VIMS. Both mitigation techniques significantly lessened the symptoms of VIMS, but there were no significant differences in the effectiveness of mitigation between the two techniques. A virtual mitigation method allowing continued immersion in a VE would pave the way for long-term immersion virtual reality studies, involving topics such as vigilance or training.

This paper describes the experimental setup of an immersive flight simulation system. The base system was created by a group of students during one semester as a bachelor project. A study revealed that a high degree of presence is achievable by the combination of body-posture based control and 3D visualization via a head-mounted display while freely hanging in a climbing gear. Furthermore the results of a study that compares two different steering methods are presented and finally discussed. The Superman method provides directional control by changing the posture of a single straightened arm. Movements of the whole upper-body with outstretched arms determine the control in Bird control. Both control methods seem to be quite interesting and intuitively controllable but show individual preferences among the participants of the study.

The paper discusses the spatialization of vision through two specific HMD-based applications, exploring how they challenge the fundamental relationship between space, vision, and bodily experience, taking into account mediating technical apparatuses. It analyzes philosophical and epistemological aspects of spatialization - with Descartes on the one hand and with Deleuze on the other -  as exemplified by two of the most cutting-edge innovations in the field of HMDs: Birdly and EyeSect. Therefore, this essay attempts to shed light on present and future impacts of HMDs on our conceptions of space and perception.

SIGNIFICANCE: Head-mounted low vision devices have received considerable attention in recent years owing to rapidly developing technology, facilitating ease of use and functionality. Systematic clinical evaluations of such de- vices remain rare but are needed to steer future device development.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate, in a multicenter prospective trial, the short- and medium- term effects of a head-worn vision enhancement device (eSight Eyewear).
METHODS: Participants aged 13 to 75 years with stable vision (distance acuity, 20/60 to 20/400; visual field di- ameter >20°) were recruited across six sites. Data were collected at baseline (no device), at fitting (with device), and after 3 months of everyday use. Outcome measures were visual ability measured by the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire 48, distance acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study), reading performance (MNREAD chart), contrast sensitivity (MARS chart), face recognition, and a modified version of the Melbourne Low Vision Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index.
RESULTS: Among the 51 participants, eSight introduction immediately improved distance acuity (0.74 ± 0.28 logMAR), contrast sensitivity (0.57 ± 0.53 log units), and critical print size (0.52 ± 0.43 logMAR), all P < .001, without any further change after 3 months; reading acuity improved at fitting (0.56 ± 0.35 logMAR) and by one ad- ditional line after 3 months, whereas reading speed only slightly increased across all three time points. The Melbourne ADL score and face recognition improved at fitting (P < .01) with trends toward further improvement at 3 months. After 3 months of use, Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire 48 person measures (in logits) improved: overall, 0.84, P < .001; reading, 2.75, P < .001; mobility, 0.04, not statistically significant; visual in- formation, 1.08, P < .001; and visual motor, 0.48, P = .02.
CONCLUSIONS: eSight introduction yields immediate improvements in visual ability, with face recognition and ADLs showing a tentative benefit of further use. Overall, visual ability, reading, and visual information showed greatest benefit with device use. Further studies need to examine benefits of practice and training and possible dif- ferential effects of underlying pathology or baseline vision.

In this study, a virtual reality fire drill application was developed with Head-Mounted Display virtual reality technology for university students. The aim of the study is to evaluate the integration process of this virtual reality application into authentic learning environments in terms of student opinions. Case study methodology was used in the study. The results show that this technology provides useful and permanent learning, practice opportunity to students, and this technology increases the motivation and engagement to the courses as well. It has been pointed out by the students that this technology should be used as a practice environment after the theoretical courses in authentic learning environments because this technology can save time and prevent cost lost in addition to avoiding risk factors. The physical environment of the classes can be improved and wireless virtual reality goggles can be used for using this technology, more effectively and efficiently as a course support material in authentic learning environments.

Existing video communication systems, used in business or private life, provides file data transfer function. However, these systems need many manipulation steps by using mouse and keyboard. These steps are not easy to transfer files for the PC beginners. Furthermore, it is not intuitive action from the point of view of handing of things. In order to solve these issues, we have proposed 3D video communication system by using Kinect and Head Mounted Display (HMD). This system provides users communications with realistic sensation and intuitive manipulation. In this system, users can see the other user’s body part through HMD and communicate in AR (Augmented Reality) space. In this paper, we provide a intuitive file data transfer application by handing of AR objects using this system.

— In this study, we propose an interaction method for 3D voxel based modeling in immersive virtual environments. We assumed that all tasks must be NUI (Natural User Interface) based interactions, rather than using conventional input devices like keyboard or mouse. To see the usefulness of our proposed interaction methods, we have created an immersive virtual reality application that can interact with three-dimensional objects using only hands and arms. The modeling process requires interactions for two types of tasks. One group is the menu selection and control tasks, and the other is the manipulation tasks for voxels. We have defined motion interactions that are appropriate for each task so that all actions are possible only with hands and arms. In order to confirm how effective the proposed methods are, we have produced various shapes of 3d objects. Based on the results, we investigated the possibility of NUI based interactions proposed in this study. Keywords— NUI (Natural User Interface), HMD (Head Mounted Display), immersive, 3d modeling.

Technology innovations in visual, wireless communications have yet to be leveraged by law enforcement. These technologies have a future in law enforcement. This limited study has provided evidence that the addition of visual, wireless communication for tactical police commanders enhances situational awareness and speeds decision making. In addition, this study has established that the technology would be accepted for use by police tactical officers once utility is demonstrated. Several issues remain that may delay its widespread adoption. These include unfamiliarity, a police-centric design that is rugged, reliable and without impaired vision, and liability and cost. In addition, there is not a current wireless, broadband backbone that could transmit the signals over a large distance. Once these limitations have been overcome this technology has the potential to revolutionize policing and tactical law enforcement.

Purpouse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single session of head-mounted display virtual reality on postural stability in elderly women.
Methods. Forty-seven female subjects underwent a 20-minute virtual reality session. The mean age of the subjects was 70.12 years. As an immersive source, we used a relaxing virtual reality game with a head-mounted display device. The postural stability test was conducted using a Nintendo Wii force plate. Participants completed a set of three 30-s trials in which they took a quiet bipedal eyes-open stance while standing on a hard surface: before the virtual reality session, immediately after the virtual reality session, and 2 minutes after the virtual reality session. Centre of pressure parameters were analysed in the sagittal and frontal planes.
Results. Analysing the results obtained immediately after the virtual reality session, significant differences were observed in almost all examined parameters. In the sagittal plane, centre of pressure path velocity increased by 10% (p<.01) and path standard deviation by 15% (p<.05). In the frontal plane, centre of pressure path velocity increased by 14% (p<.01). After 2 minutes, all examined parameters showed no significant difference compared to before the virtual reality session.
Conclusion. Immediately after the virtual reality session, there was an increase in almost all examined parameters. However, after 2 minutes, all examined parameters had returned to baseline. Therefore, to reduce fall risk after a virtual reality session, it is recommended that the subject spend at least 2 minutes in a sitting position.

This article examines the increasing ludic implementation of mental llnesses in digital games. It especially focuses on display techniques and the benefits and drawbacks of games that utilize a first- or third-person view to immerse the player into the mental illnesses of their protagonists. This sort of player involvement marks a new trend that can be observed in recent games and will play an important role in future game development. Instead of merely stigmatizing the mentally ill as evil antagonists, head-mounted virtual reality displays like the Oculus Rift are able to simulate their perception and thus create a form of self-awareness for the player. Layers of Fear (2016) and Senua’s Sacrifice (2017) are used as case examples.

Extended Abstract
People may not be able to spare time to do whatever they want to do because of their heavy workload. In addition to this, physical disabilities may also be another reason that hinder them. Besides, reasons such as high financial costs may obscure them to be in the places where they want to be or to perform the activities they want to. In this study, it is aimed that the historical space of Malatya Caravanserai can be visited in three dimensional virtual reality environment, as well as the application of different virtual reality applications to users and taking users’ opinions about these virtual reality environments. Another aim of this study is to identify the problems that may arise during virtual reality applications and to offer solutions to these problems. Formative research technique was used in the study. The formative research technique aims to be the basis for designing or improving instructional practices as well as being a design theory. The pilot of the study was conducted with five students studying at a public university in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey and the final implementation was conducted with 20 students studying in different departments of the same university. When selecting the study group, convenience sampling method was used. All users who participated in the study were selected from volunteers. The data in the study were obtained by the “Virtual Reality Environments Evaluation Interview Form” developed by the researchers. With this form, users were asked about: what they felt as a result of the virtual reality experience, what features they found positive and negative in practice, in which areas virtual reality applications could be used, potential uses of virtual reality in education, and what points must be further developed in the applications. In this study, the historical place known as Malatya’s Caravanserai was modelled in three dimensions and transferred to virtual reality environment. Later, users travelled in this environment to gain experience. In addition, a few virtual reality applications already available on Oculus's website (https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/) were experienced by users. While the Caravanserai historical site was developed in the virtual reality environment, firstly the Unity game engine, then the Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles, and the motion controller were properly connected. Then the three-dimensional drawings of the historical site were modelled with the SketchUp program. Texturing of modelled objects was also made in SketchUp program. In the next stage, the modelled three dimensional objects were transferred to the Unity game engine. After the audio and visuals for the environment were added, a virtual reality environment was developed. The virtual reality environment was tested with five students as a pilot study. The final implementation was started when no technical problems were observed in the pilot study. The main study was conducted by one of the researchers, in the office of another researcher. The environment in which the work was conducted was the same for each user. In the environment, attention has been paid to the variables (noise, temperature, light, ambient air) that may disturb the users. Each user who participated in the final implementation of the study had experience using virtual reality goggles and spent at least 10 minutes in the virtual reality environment. In the name of the provision of external validity (transferability), the findings have been described directly and the data have been reported in detail. The environments and processes were defined to ensure external reliability (confirmability). After the raw data set was stored and read twice, draft codes were determined. To maintain the internal reliability (consistency), the researchers did not add their own interpretations to the data when analyzing the interview data. The data obtained with the data collection tool were interpreted by making a content analysis. The opinions of the users about what they felt, the areas in which the virtual reality could be used, and their use in the educational field were taken at the end of the virtual reality experience. In addition, users were also asked about how the virtual reality applications could be improved. As a result of the content analysis, five main themes were obtained: positive experience, negative experience, areas of use, potential use in education, and improvement. According to the results of the study, virtual reality environments are interesting, impressive and intriguing, and providing people with a unique experience. Virtual reality environments bring experiences that are close to reality and at the same time lead to realistic sense of space. That is, virtual reality environments provide the permanence of learning. Virtual reality environments have been criticized by users for reasons such as dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath such as sweating, clarity of vision, and difficulties in controlling with head movements. In the study, it was deduced that virtual reality could be used in fields such as education, health, engineering, games, and entertainment. Virtual reality applications can facilitate learning, provide more permanent learning, save the person from memorization, provide transference of learning, support learning by experiencing, provide learning while enjoying from the learning process and save the education from boredom, can reduce the lack of information, make the learning environment richer, lower the cost of education, gain different experiences for the users, increase the interest in the courses, and improve the achievement. Given these positive results for the use of virtual reality in education, it can be concluded that virtual reality practices can be effective in learning. In subsequent works, tools and materials that allow more ergonomic and easier mobility in virtual reality environments can be used to create a more effective virtual reality environment. In addition, the image quality of applications can be improved, appropriate practices can be developed in accordance with the age, psychological and physiological characteristics of the persons, still objects in the environment can be given motion characteristics, careful attention to the length of the application period can be shown, and practices can be developed in the context of formal and informal learning. Also, once the improvements are made in the application content, new research can be done with more and representative users.

ÖZ
Bu çalışmada Malatya Kervansaray tarihi mekânının ve diğer bazı mekânların üç boyutlu sanal gerçeklik ortamında gezilmesinin ardından bu sanal gerçeklik ortamlarına yönelik kullanıcı görüşleri alınmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı sanal gerçeklik uygulamalarında ortaya çıkabilecek problemleri belirlemek ve bu problemlere çözüm önerileri sunabilmektir. Çalışmaya bir devlet üniversitesinin farklı bölümlerinde okumakta olan 20 öğrenci katılmıştır. Çalışma grubu belirlenirken kolay ulaşılabilir örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan her bir kullanıcı sanal gerçeklik gözlüğü kullanarak sanal gerçeklik ortamında en az 10 dakika zaman geçirerek bir deneyim yaşamıştır. Çalışmada biçimlendirici araştırma tekniği kullanılmıştır. Çalışmadaki veriler araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen “Sanal Gerçeklik Ortamları Değerlendirme Görüş Formu” ile elde edilmiş, veriler içerik analizi yapılarak yorumlanmıştır. Çalışma sonunda kullanıcılar sanal gerçeklik ortamlarının potansiyel avantajlarını ve sanal gerçeklik ortamlarında ortaya çıkabilecek potansiyel problemleri belirtmiştir. Ayrıca sanal gerçeklik ortamlarının nasıl daha iyi hale getirilebileceği yönünde kullanıcılar tarafından bir takım önerilerde bulunulmuştur. Çalışma sonunda kullanıcı görüşleri ve önerileri doğrultusunda sanal gerçeklik ortamlarını daha etkili hale getirebilmek için araştırmacılar tarafından bir takım çözüm önerileri sunulmuştur.