RAPID COMMUNICATION Navigating through Virtual Environments: Visual Realism Improves Spatial Cognition Frank Meijer, M.Sc., 1 Branko L. Geudeke, M.Sc., 1 and Egon L. van den Broek, Ph.D. 2 Abstract Recent advances in computer technology have significantly facilitated the use of virtual environments (VE) for small and medium enterprises (SME). However, achieving visual realism in such VE requires high investments in terms of time and effort, while its usefulness has not yet become apparent from research. Other qualities of VE, such as the use of large displays, proved its effectiveness in enhancing the individual user’s spatial cognition. The current study assessed whether the same benefits apply for visual realism in VE. Thirty-two participants were divided into two groups, who explored either a photorealistic or a nonrealistic supermarket presented on a large screen. The participants were asked to navigate through the supermarket on a predetermined route. Subsequently, spatial learning was tested in four pen-and-paper tests that assessed how accurately they had memorized the route and the environment’s spatial layout. The study revealed increased spatial learning from the photorealistic compared to the nonrealistic supermarket. Specifically, participants performed better on tests that involved egocentric spatial knowledge. The results suggest visual realism is useful because it increases the user’s spatial knowledge in the VE. Therefore, the current study provides clear evidence that it is worthwhile for SME to invest in achieving visual realism in VE. Introduction T he use of virtual environments (VE) has become increasingly widespread. In numerous professions, new techniques are introduced to simulate virtual situations to increase insight, teach skills, or test usability. For example, in product design, VE can provide scenarios in which prototypes are tested early in development. 1 Not only are expensive, time-consuming mockups avoided, but future use problems are uncovered and easily anticipated as well. However, VE are generally used only by large companies because of com- plexity and costs. Only recently, with the technique becoming more accessi- ble, has VE become feasible for companies with smaller bud- gets, or small and medium enterprises (SME). The feasibility of using a VE depends on a range of constraints, including (a) the experienced immersion of users, (b) the resources and knowledge required, and (c) the development time of the VE. In this work, we focus on the first constraint. This issue is investigated within the development of a new supermarket. In particular, we address the relation between immersion and human visual spatial cognition. Slater et al. 2 stated that the immersive character of VE is determined by (a) the number of sensory systems (i.e., vision, sound, touch), (b) the extent that information is provided from any direction, (c) the extent that external noise is ex- cluded, (d) the correspondence between the user’s behavior and the system’s feedback, and (e) the degree of sensory richness, or realism. Without dispute, a multisensory VE aids immersion. However, for SME, such a setup is far from realistic consid- ering the constraints they have. For example, with multisen- sory VE, the synchronization of the sensory modalities is both crucial and challenging and consequently is not feasible. A similar argument can be made for Slater et al.’s second re- quirement. A VE providing information from any direction (e.g., a CAVE) is still far too expensive for SME in terms of both purchasing and maintenance. The third requirement, external noise, can be well controlled with the choice of a suitable (noise-free) room for applying the VE. The fourth requirement, correspondence between the user and system, is necessarily always optimized, since counter-intuitive system feedback will lead to unnatural user behavior in VE. This leaves Slater et al.’s fifth requirement: realism. A certain re- alism can be achieved for all sensory modalities (e.g., odor, temperature, tactile, sound, vision). In general, the more re- alistic a modality needs to be, the more expensive it is to achieve the realism. Although the benefit of realistically 1 Department of Cognitive Psychology and Ergonomics, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 2 Center for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT), University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY &BEHAVIOR Volume 12, Number 5, 2009 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089=cpb.2009.0053 517