Litleskare, Sigbjørn and Mac Intyre, Tadhg and Calogiuri, Giovanna (2020) Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1738). ISSN 1661-7827

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Abstract

Being exposed to natural environments is associated with improved health and well-being, as these environments are believed to promote feelings of “being away” from everyday struggles, positive emotional reactions and stress reduction. Despite these positive effects, humanity is becoming increasingly more distanced from nature due to societal changes, such as increased urbanization and the reduced accessibility of natural environments. Technology is also partly to blame, as research suggests that people replace nature contact with increased screen time. In this cross-section between nature and technology, we find technological nature which is progressing towards a point where we may be capable of simulating exposure to real nature. Concerns have been raised regarding this technology, as it is feared it will replace real nature. However, research suggests that virtual nature may have a more positive impact on society than a mere replacement of real nature, and this review propose several areas where virtual nature may be a beneficial addition to actual nature (Enable), help people reconnect with the real natural world (Reconnect) and “boost” human-nature interactions (Augment). Based on the current research and theoretical framework, this review proposes guidelines for future research within these areas, with the aim of advancing the field by producing high quality research.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Ciet as: Litleskare S, E. MacIntyre T, Calogiuri G. Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(5):1738. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051738
Keywords:	virtual reality; technological nature; immersive virtual environments; nature; green exercise; nature based interventions; immersive virtual nature;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	15063
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051738
Depositing User:	Tadhg Mac Intyre
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2021 15:26
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher:	MDPI
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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