The Light and Dark Sides of VR

The application of Virtual Reality (VR) is varied, ranging from entertainment, education, and training to therapy, workflow optimization, and scientific research. Over the past decade, there has been extensive work demonstrating how VR can enhance our lives and improve our wellbeing. VR has positively impacted various fields, for example, by facilitating distant communication, alleviating loneliness, providing relaxation support, and improving remote learning. However, as with any innovative technology, there may be unforeseen downsides to VR that may arise from overuse, poorly developed experiences, or unethical purposes. As a result, some positive use cases may have long-lasting negative effects, while use cases originally intended as negative may help users overcome anxiety or treat disorders.

For example, VR can allow users to isolate themselves in horror games, which may be engaging but could negatively impact children, or habituate users to gambling with real money in environments where all external stimuli are heavily altered or reduced. With VR increasingly integrated into our daily lives through virtual workplaces, virtual social gatherings, and the Metaverse, it is critical to identify potential risks and establish design guidelines to ensure user safety.

This Research Topic serves as a first step in identifying opportunities, potential risks, and new research directions.