Thesis Outline
- Mike Rozak
- Sep 11, 2019
- 3 min read
Thesis Statement:
Virtual reality brings all the sensory triggers of nature together into one holistic experience that is focused toward anxiety and stress reduction.
Quote
"I remember on this tour, I had a moment in Bali. I had my feet in the water and was looking at this really beautiful sunset. And I just remember looking back at my guys and saying: 'this is it. This is the absolute most perfect moment I had ever experienced.' I wasn't thinking about the past. I was a hundred percent immersed in the present. And I was excited about the future and the people that would be in it. This experience has shown me the world has more ways of living life and I felt invited to experience that. We caught a glimpse of another life, another culture, another world and I don't know, I found a profound urge to try to add to it for even just a moment. Whether it be a simple interaction or a show. Looking at life through new lenses and immersing yourself in new cultures has given me an overwhelming sense of peace and unity. Looking out to see the crowd singing the words to our songs in places we had never dreamed of performing was truly a humbling experience. This is why we do what we do and these are the moments we live for." Devin Oliver (Lead Vocalist—I See Stars)
Intro—Ends with thesis statement
Everyone experiences high stress levels at some point and many have a history of anxiety. If there were a way to leave the stress of our everyday world, there may be a way to better balance of stress in our lives. Virtual reality is one way to find a quick escape to a new space entirely. Virtual reality brings all the sensory triggers of nature together into one holistic experience that is focused toward anxiety and stress reduction.
Background on motivation for project
Most of my life has been a struggle for calmness to settle my restless mind. I always used video games as a way to escape the real world and focus on something virtual. Over the years, I have experienced emotionally taxing situations, making my anxiety more severe. There are many ways to cope with these thoughts and emotions, however, I found that being surrounded by nature helped keep my mind from racing through several thoughts. The motivation for creating a rainforest environment to experience in virtual reality lies in the need for an immediate escape from everyday life.
Background on VR (tech)
Arguments (example links for each):
1. Immersive Experience (evidence that immersive experiences are effective at reducing stress)
Spa-like relaxation experience:
2. Nature sounds reducing stress (effective at reducing stress)
Study shows stress decreases with natural sounds versus artificial sounds:
3. Mindfulness meditation (surroundings/visuals are effective for mindful meditation)
Helps with various mental stimulations:
4. Environmental factors (temperature as well as what can be felt and seen where standing)
Humans and their surroundings. Lighting, comfort and security, familiarity:
Describe how project design choices are based on the above arguments
Rainforests have a lot of natural sound as there are so many species of wildlife. The area usually has streams and rivers that flow through it.
Conclusion
Several studies show that being surrounded by nature and listening to sounds of things like birds, rain, and thunder are significant factors in achieving reduced stress and anxiety.
Recent Posts
See All
Quote "I remember on this tour, I had a moment in Bali. I had my feet in the water and was looking at this really beautiful sunset. And I...
Comments