Unified concepts: a review and proposal for virtual reality terminology

Abstract

Throughout the Virtual Reality (VR) literature, we find different terms to define the same concepts as well as the same terms addressing different concepts. This issue can easily cause misinterpretations and difficulty in the analysis of papers from different authors. This work addresses this terminology confusion through a detailed analysis of current key concepts, how they have been employed, comparing them to other concepts, and proposing adaptations to their definitions to reduce conceptual overlap while preserving the original terms. In this work, we reviewed widely used terms in VR: Fidelity, Realism, Immersion, Presence, and Coherence. We also identified and discussed derivative terms, such as Place Illusion, Plausibility Illusion, Sensorimotor Contingencies, Multisensory, Virtual Content, Objective and Subjective Realism, and Objective and Subjective Internal Coherence. We proposed how these distinct concepts can be separated, merged, and linked, providing a clearer terminology for future use and discussing the implications of this terminology.