Virtual Reality and Its Main Characteristics: A Beginner’s Guide

Mauricio Vasquez Carbonell; Soraya Saad Arcón

Authors

Mauricio Vasquez Carbonell Universidad Simón Bolívar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3579-4280
Soraya Saad Arcón Institución Universitaria de Barranquilla https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9440-3576

Keywords:

Virtual Reality, Immersion, Perception, Interactivity, Senses, Massification

Abstract

Currently, Virtual Reality (VR) is recognized as a technology capable of generating computer-created environments that aim to emulate reality. It is primarily defined by three key characteristics: immersion, perception, and interactivity. However, despite its potential, VR has not yet established itself as the valuable educational tool it truly is. As a result, many people remain unfamiliar with essential concepts related to VR. This document seeks to address that gap by providing guidance for individuals interested in exploring this technology in greater depth. It will cover the importance of the senses in the VR experience, along with how their definitions have evolved over time. Additionally, the document will explain how VR has been implemented as an educational tool—particularly due to its capacity to simulate unlikely scenarios and support task repetition. Finally, it will examine the factors that have hindered the widespread adoption of VR among the general population.

Author Biographies

Mauricio Vasquez Carbonell, Universidad Simón Bolívar

Is a full-time professor at the Universidad Simón Bolívar in Barranquilla, Colombia. He holds a degree in electronic engineering and has earned a master’s degree in engineering. Currently, he is pursuing a doctorate in information and communication technologies (ICT), focusing on software development and technology applied to education, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mobile apps.

Soraya Saad Arcón, Institución Universitaria de Barranquilla

A full-time professor at the Institución Universitaria de Barranquilla in Colombia. She is a graphic designer and holds a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on media applied to education.

References

Altukhaim, S., Sakabe, N., Nagaratnam, K., Mannava, N., Kondo, T., & Hayashi, Y. (2025). Immersive virtual reality enhanced reinforcement induced physical therapy (EVEREST). Displays, 87, 102962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.displa.2024.102962

Bailenson, J. N., Yee, N., Merget, D., & Schroeder, R. (2006). The effect of behavioral realism and form realism of real-time avatar faces on verbal disclosure, nonverbal disclosure, emotion recognition, and copresence in dyadic interaction. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 15(4), 359–372. https://doi.org/10.1162/pres.15.4.359

Beck, D. (2019). Special Issue: Augmented and Virtual Reality in Education: Immersive Learning Research. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 57(7), 1619–1625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633119854035

Biocca, F. (1992). Communication Within Virtual Reality: Creating a Space for Research. Journal of Communication, 42(4), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1992.tb00810.x

Biocca, F. (1997). The Cyborg ’ s Dilemma : Progressive Embodiment in Virtual Environments . The Cyborg ’ s Dilemma : Progressive Embodiment in Virtual Environments [ 1 ]. Second International Conference on Cognitive Technology, December, 1–29.

Bohil, C. J., Alicea, B., & Biocca, F. A. (2011). Virtual reality in neuroscience research and therapy. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(12). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3122

Bohmeier, B., Cybinski, L. M., Gromer, D., Bellinger, D., Deckert, J., Erhardt-Lehmann, A., Deserno, L., Mühlberger, A., Pauli, P., Polak, T., & Herrmann, M. J. (2025). Intermittent theta burst stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has no additional effect on the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for acrophobia. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Behavioural Brain Research, 476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115232

Chiquet, S., Martarelli, C. S., Weibel, D., & Mast, F. W. (2023). Learning by teaching in immersive virtual reality – Absorption tendency increases learning outcomes. Learning and Instruction, 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2022.101716

Cipresso, P., Giglioli, I. A. C., Raya, M. A., & Riva, G. (2018). The Past, Present, and Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality Research: A Network and Cluster Analysis of the Literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(November), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02086

David, R., Lemos, C., Daniela, M., Restrepo, C., Santiago, O., & Montaño, P. (2020). Enterprise architecture learning through virtual reality software prototype. Case Study. Revista Educación En Ingeniería, 15(30), 9–17. https://doi.org/10.26507/rei

Fourman, M. S., Ghaednia, H., Lans, A., Lloyd, S., Sweeney, A., Detels, K., Dijkstra, H., Oosterhoff, J. H. F., Ramsey, D. C., Do, S., & Schwab, J. H. (2021). Applications of augmented and virtual reality in spine surgery and education: A review. Seminars in Spine Surgery, 33(2), 100875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semss.2021.100875

Fuchs, H., Bishop, G., Bricken, W., Brooks, F., Brown, M., Burbeck, C., Durlach, N., Ellis, S., Green, M., Lackner, J., McNeill, M., Moshel, M., Pausch, R., Robinett, W., Srinivasan, M., Sutherland, I., Urban, D., & Wenzel, E. (1992). Research Directions in Virtual Environments. In NSF Invitational Workshop. https://doi.org/10.1145/142413.142416

Fuchs, L., Kluska, A., Novak, D., & Kosashvili, Y. (2022). The influence of early virtual reality intervention on pain, anxiety, and function following primary total knee arthroplasty. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101687

Fulvio, J. M., Ji, M., & Rokers, B. (2021). Variations in visual sensitivity predict motion sickness in virtual reality. Entertainment Computing, 38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2021.100423

Garzón, J., & Acevedo, J. (2019). Meta-analysis of the impact of Augmented Reality on students ’ learning gains. Educational Research Review, 27(March), 244–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2019.04.001

Gorini, A., & Riva, G. (2008). Virtual reality in anxiety disorders: The past and the future. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 8(2), 215–233. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.8.2.215

Hall, A. J., & Walmsley, P. (2022). Technology-enhanced learning in orthopaedics: Virtual reality and multi-modality educational workshops may be effective in the training of surgeons and operating department staff. Surgeon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2022.04.009

Han, Y., Yang, J., Diao, Y., Jin, R., Guo, B., & Adamu, Z. (2022). Process and outcome-based evaluation between virtual really-driven and traditional construction safety training. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2022.101634

Heilig, M. L. (1992). EL Cine del Futuro: The Cinema of the Future. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 1(3), 279–294.

Kanade, S. G., & Duffy, V. G. (2024). Exploring the effectiveness of virtual reality as a learning tool in the context of task interruption: A systematic review. In International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics (Vol. 99). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2024.103548

Korzeniowski, P., Plotka, S., Brawura-Biskupski-Samaha, R., & Sitek, A. (2022). Virtual Reality Simulator for Fetoscopic Spina Bifida Repair Surgery. IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, 2022-October, 401–406. https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS47612.2022.9981920

Krueger, M. W. (1992). An architecture for artificial realities. Digest of Papers COMPCON Spring 1992, 462–465. https://doi.org/10.1109/CMPCON.1992.186756

Kuznetcova, I., Glassman, M., Tilak, S., Wen, Z., Evans, M., Pelfrey, L., & Lin, T. J. (2023). Using a mobile Virtual Reality and computer game to improve visuospatial self-efficacy in middle school students. Computers and Education, 192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104660

Lee Wong, C., Li, C. K., Choi, K. C., Wei So, W. K., Yan Kwok, J. Y., Cheung, Y. T., & Chan, C. W. H. (2022). Effects of immersive virtual reality for managing anxiety, nausea and vomiting among paediatric cancer patients receiving their first chemotherapy: An exploratory randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102233

Lin, H. K., Hsieh, M., Wang, C., Sie, Z., & Chang, S. (2011). Establishment and Usability Evaluation of an Interactive Ar. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 10(4), 181–187.

Lo, Y. T., Yang, C. C., Yeh, T. F., Tu, H. Y., & Chang, Y. C. (2022). Effectiveness of immersive virtual reality training in nasogastric tube feeding education: A randomized controlled trial. Nurse Education Today, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105601

Loomis, J. M., Blascovich, J. J., & Beall, A. C. (1999). Immersive virtual environment technology as a basic research tool in psychology. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 31(4), 557–564.

Loup, G., Serna, A., Iksal, S., & George, S. (2016). Immersion and persistence: improving learners’ engagement in authentic learning situations. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Including Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 9891 LNCS(September 2019), 410–415. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45153-4_35

Machover, C., & Tice, S. E. (1994). Virtual reality. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 14(1), 15–16. https://doi.org/10.1109/38.250913

Mayne, R., & Green, H. (2020). Virtual reality for teaching and learning in crime scene investigation. Science and Justice, 60(5), 466–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2020.07.006

Mazuryk, T., & Gervautz, M. (2013). Virtual Reality History, Applications, Technology and Future. Digital Outcasts, 63(ISlE), 92–98. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-404705-1.00006-6

Mellal, A., González-López, P., Giammattei, L., George, M., Starnoni, D., Cossu, G., Cornelius, J. F., Berhouma, M., Messerer, M., & Daniel, R. T. (2025). Evaluating the impact of a hand-crafted 3D-Printed head Model and virtual reality in skull base surgery training. Brain and Spine, 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2024.104163

Milgram, P., & Kishino, F. (1994). A Taxonomy of Mixed Reality Visual Displays. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, E77-D(12), 1–15.

Milgram, P., Takemura, H., Utsumi, A., & Kishino, F. (1994). Mixed Reality (MR) Reality-Virtuality (RV) Continuum. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2351(Telemanipulator and Telepresence Technologies), 282–292. https://doi.org/10.1.1.83.6861

Munafo, J., Diedrick, M., & Stoffregen, T. A. (2017). The virtual reality head-mounted display Oculus Rift induces motion sickness and is sexist in its effects. Experimental Brain Research, 235(3), 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-016-4846-7

Reiners, T., Wood, L. C., & Gregory, S. (2014). Experimental study on consumer-technology supported authentic immersion in virtual environments for education and vocational training. Proceedings of ASCILITE 2014 - Annual Conference of the Australian Society for Computers in Tertiary Education, 171–181.

Saunders, J., Bayerl, P. S., Davey, S., & Lohrmann, P. (2019). Validating Virtual Reality as an Effective Training Medium in the Security Domain. 2019 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces201, 1908–1911.

Shoshani, A. (2023). From virtual to prosocial reality: The effects of prosocial virtual reality games on preschool Children’s prosocial tendencies in real life environments. Computers in Human Behavior, 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107546

Simón-Vicente, L., Rodríguez-Cano, S., Delgado-Benito, V., Ausín-Villaverde, V., & Cubo Delgado, E. (2022). Cybersickness. A systematic literature review of adverse effects related to virtual reality. In Neurologia. Spanish Society of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nrl.2022.04.009

Slater, M., Usoh, M., & Steed, A. (2015). Depth of Presence in Virtual Environments. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 3(2), 130–144. https://doi.org/10.1162/pres.1994.3.2.130

Soliman, M., Pesyridis, A., Dalaymani-Zad, D., Gronfula, M., & Kourmpetis, M. (2021). The application of virtual reality in engineering education. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/app11062879

Steuer, J. (1992). Defining virtual reality: dimensions determining telepresence, Communication in the age of virtual reality. Journal of Communication, 42(4), 73–93.

Sutherland, I. E. (1968). A head-mounted three dimensional display. Proceedings of the December 9-11, 1968, Fall Joint Computer Conference, Part I on - AFIPS ’68 (Fall, Part I), 757. https://doi.org/10.1145/1476589.1476686

Turner, W. A., & Casey, L. M. (2014). Outcomes associated with virtual reality in psychological interventions: where are we now? Clinical Psychology Review, 34(6), 634–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2014.10.003

Vásquez-Carbonell, M. (2021). A Systematic Literature Review of Educational Apps: What Are They Up To? Journal of Mobile Multimedia, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.13052/jmm1550-4646.1825

Vásquez-Carbonell, M., Patiño-Saucedo, J. A., & Paez-Logreira, H. (2023). Prototyping approach to test and evaluate a 3D brain model for psychology teachers and students. Virtual Creativity, 13(1), 69–86. https://doi.org/10.1386/vcr_00075_1

Zeng, Y., Zeng, L., Cheng, A. S. K., Wei, X., Wang, B., Jiang, J., & Zhou, J. (2022). The use of immersive virtual reality for cancer-related cognitive impairment assessment and rehabilitation: A clinical feasibility study. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjon.2022.100079

Zou, X., O’Hern, S., Ens, B., Coxon, S., Mater, P., Chow, R., Neylan, M., & Vu, H. L. (2021). On-road virtual reality autonomous vehicle (VRAV) simulator: An empirical study on user experience. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2021.103090