20261_2

This project investigates how physical objects (proxies) alter the VR experience. Real-world everyday objects serve as such physical proxies for virtual objects and make the VR experience tangible.
Since haptics can amplify “negative” emotions in VR, certain textures and objects are intended to specifically trigger a sense of horror.
Horror, or a sense of dread, describes a derived emotion composed of disgust and fear.
The study will then evaluate whether physically touching these objects measurably intensifies disgust and dread and makes the virtual illusion more immersive.

(Leonie Ferdinand und Alexandra Rachel Müller / Prof. Berdux, SoSe 2026)