Virtual Empathy

For this project, two identical games have been developed – one VR game and one conventional gaming experience. Both games place the users in the shoes of a person with dementia, allowing them to hear the characters’ thoughts guiding their actions. Information distortion is used to mimic the confusion experienced by those with dementia. 

Participants who played the VR game reported a more realistic and immersive experience compared to those who played the conventional game. While the VR game was better at making players feel emotions, there was no clear proof that it improved empathy. This project shows that VR has the potential to create strong emotional experiences, but more research is needed to understand its role in building empathy.