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Virtual reality (VR) technology has come a long way. It has evolved from bulky headsets connected to computers into sleek, immersive systems that trick your senses like never before. The key to this transformation? Perception manipulation—the skill of convincing your brain to believe in these digital worlds.
This manipulation is essential. Without it, VR is just an advanced 3D screen. When executed properly, it enhances immersion, making users feel genuinely present in a different place and time. Recent discoveries reveal an interesting twist: passive VR experiences—where users aren’t actively controlling their movement but are still fully immersed—hold great promise in perception tricks.
In simulator chairs and cars, people can easily be deceived into believing they are moving faster, further, and even in the opposite direction while their real-world movements remain relatively calm and restricted. This opens up opportunities for more immersive and convincing VR experiences without requiring large physical spaces or intense user input.
For example, interactive simulators are already effectively using this technology. These simulators offer a wide variety of experiences, including exciting rides like Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride and immersive adventures such as King Kong of Skull Island, all while keeping user input minimal. Such advancements not only enhance the immersive experience but also make it more accessible for different entertainment venues like arcades or trampoline parks.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have made significant advancements in understanding what passive virtual reality (VR) experiences can accomplish. Their findings suggest that our brains can be deceived into perceiving movement that goes beyond what is physically real.
The study reveals several important discoveries about how subtle changes in motion cues within VR environments can greatly impact users’ perception without causing discomfort or disorientation:
Dr Graham Wilson and Professor Stephen Brewster led this research at Glasgow’s School of Computing Science. Wilson specializes in human-computer interaction and immersive technology, while Brewster has extensive knowledge in perceptual interfaces and multisensory feedback. Their collaborative efforts not only explored the boundaries of safe perception distortion but also outlined how these methods can create new possibilities in VR design.
Insights from their work challenge assumptions about space limitations in VR setups and suggest that clever sensory manipulation could lead to more accessible and convincing experiences—setting a higher standard for passive VR immersion.
Motorised simulator seats are the unsung heroes in tricking your brain during VR sessions. They use two main techniques to manipulate your perception: rotational gain and translational gain.
This is where the chair’s actual physical rotation is subtly altered in VR to feel much larger than reality. For instance, a modest 15-degree turn can be amplified to feel like a full 360-degree spin without triggering discomfort or awareness. Your inner ear senses the movement, but VR visuals exaggerate it, creating an immersive illusion of sweeping motion.
Less obvious but equally powerful, this manipulates perceived speed and distance. When sitting passively—say, in a simulator chair or even a car seat—the VR environment speeds up your sense of forward motion by multiples of your real-world velocity. Think cruising at 10 mph but feeling like you’re zooming at 75 mph within the virtual world.
“In simulator chairs and in cars, people can easily be fooled into thinking they are moving faster, further, and even in the opposite direction while their real-world movements remain relatively sedate and confined,” says Dr Graham Wilson.
The genius here lies in the mismatch between physical cues and virtual feedback that remains under the user’s radar. By carefully calibrating these gains, designers create convincing illusions without tipping off your senses or causing motion sickness—a delicate balancing act that unlocks new realms for passive VR experiences.
Passive VR techniques are essential for making virtual reality experiences more immersive. By exploring methods like virtual speed amplification and using opposed motion cues, developers can create more engaging and realistic VR environments.
Increasing the perceived speed of movement in VR can intensify the sense of thrill and excitement for users. By manipulating the visual cues related to speed, developers can create a heightened sensation of velocity without compromising user comfort or safety.
Introducing conflicting motion signals between physical movements and virtual representations can trick the user’s brain into perceiving different directions or speeds than what is actually occurring. This technique enhances the sense of disorientation and surprise, immersing users more deeply into the virtual world by challenging their sensory perceptions.
In situations where users are seated in simulator chairs or vehicles, these passive techniques are particularly effective at deceiving the senses, turning ordinary movements into thrilling adventures.
Perception manipulation in VR isn’t just a lab curiosity—it’s already shaking up real-world experiences. Theme park rides leverage these techniques to crank immersion without needing huge physical spaces. Motorised simulator seats with rotational and translational gain trick riders into feeling wild spins and turns that are far subtler in reality. You could be actually barely moving, yet your brain insists you’re on a rollercoaster loop or zooming through a virtual cityscape.
Theme parks have embraced perception manipulation to enhance their attractions. By using VR technology, they can create immersive experiences that transport visitors to fantastical worlds without the need for extensive physical setups. This allows them to maximize the use of space and offer thrilling rides that may not be feasible otherwise.
Driving simulators are another area where perception manipulation is making waves. These setups employ similar techniques as theme park rides to amplify the sensation of speed and distance. By carefully controlling motion cues, operators can create convincing environments for both training and entertainment purposes.
The next frontier for perception manipulation lies within flight simulators, particularly in professional training programs. By integrating these techniques, it becomes possible to:
This technology holds great promise for creating more accessible and realistic simulation environments—potentially reducing costs while enhancing fidelity for both instructors and trainees.
As these applications continue to evolve, we can expect even greater innovations in how we perceive and interact with virtual worlds.
The CHI 2025 conference is set to unveil groundbreaking research that pushes the boundaries of how perception manipulation can be leveraged in VR. This next wave of innovation promises to refine passive VR experiences by integrating more subtle and effective sensory deceptions, making virtual worlds feel astonishingly real without physical discomfort.
Central to these developments is the ViAjeRo research project, led by Professor Stephen Brewster’s team. ViAjeRo is pioneering the use of both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to transform passenger experiences during travel. By deliberately deceiving senses, ViAjeRo aims to alleviate discomfort and boredom on journeys, turning passive transit time into engaging, immersive experiences.
Together, insights from CHI 2025 and ViAjeRo set the stage for a future where VR not only entertains but tangibly improves real-world experiences through sophisticated sensory trickery.
Advancements in VR technology are pushing boundaries on how we experience motion and space. In simulator chairs and in cars, people can easily be fooled into thinking they are moving faster, further, and even in the opposite direction while their real-world movements remain relatively sedate and confined. This manipulation isn’t just a neat trick—it’s a game changer for user comfort and immersion.
What’s your take on perception manipulation? Ready to test your own sense of reality?
