Down to Earth: Investigating Barefooted Experiences in Seated Virtual Reality Scenarios

Including tactile feet perception in the experience of virtual worlds has received little attention. Examining this aspect could be particularly useful in seated virtual reality (VR), where users are limited in their ability to get in contact with the virtual world due to spatial constraints. This paper investigates whether tactile feet perception increases perceived presence and physical awareness in seated VR scenarios. Specifically, we aimed to examine whether barefoot explorations create a superior experience compared to settings where shoes are worn. Therefore, a comparative study was set up (N=20) consisting of two virtual scenarios (forest/beach) and three different conditions (barefoot, shoes, reference condition). Results showed that body perception and perceived presence were significantly higher in barefoot conditions compared to shoe conditions. Some aspects of perceived presence were influenced by the type of virtual scenario (forest vs. beach). This can be explained through the nature of the employed scenarios and their visual presentations. The knowledge gained by the results of the current study helps to extend different use cases for seated VR experiences (environments with little space, people with physical limitations) with new design elements.