The virtuality continuum and storytelling: Simulation, interactivity, user experience and interaction design in virtual and mixed environments. A STEAM based approach

Abstract

Virtual reality and digital environments are phenomena that have several theoretical and experimental approaches different domains research fields. The interactivity, simulation, or immersion in virtual environments help to set new research frameworks for using and implementing digital information and communication technologies. This fact contributes for several researches in order to develop new technological interactive and communicational systems. The relationships between environment, individuals and technology transform when interactive ICT systems are implemented, carrying research to new conceptual frameworks. The current research explores possibilities and potential of digital interactive and immersive environments, in order to contribute to set models to communicate with the technological interfaces, as well as designing new conceptual interaction systems. Thus, design of interactive systems needs to be focuses in practices such as user experience and interaction design, as well as integrate storytelling or specifications such as IMS LD, in order to improve the design of those systems. The research aims also focus in interdisciplinary such as approaches STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Results describe how virtual reality or emerging ICT have a strong impact in the interaction between individuals and their environments, and open lines of research in aforementioned disciplines (interaction design, user experience, human-computer interaction, video game design or communication systems and processes, or ergonomics and cognitive science), improving interactive process between users, digital information and virtual and physic environments.