Media influence on expectations of virtual reality

Journal article


Graves, E. 2018. Media influence on expectations of virtual reality. Refractory. 30.
AuthorsGraves, E.
Abstract

Although virtual reality (VR) technologies like Oculus Rift, Sony PlayStation VR and Samsung Gear VR have only recently become available for consumer use, VR has appeared in fictional works (such as novels and films) since 1964 (Steinicke, 2016). This means the general public have had many years to build up their views of VR and, thus, their expectations of real VR experiences. Since fictional portrayals of science and technology can have a strong impact upon public perceptions of them (Dourish and Bell, 2014), it is worth examining the extent of which fictional portrayals of VR have influenced consumer expectations of VR. Previous research has been carried out about consumer awareness of VR (Futuresource Consulting, 2016; Magid, 2017). However, the literature lacks studies with a focus on how the general public became aware of the technology and how this could impact what they expect from current VR devices. Therefore, using an original qualitative survey, this study seeks to reveal the impact of fictional representations of VR on its consumers.

Results from the online survey of VR users indicate that fictional representations of VR can and do affect consumer opinions and expectations of the technology. However, these effects seem to differ from those highlighted in studies focusing on other related areas such as forensic science. Whereas previous studies found fictional representations of science and technology to cause the public to overestimate the actual technology (Baskin and Sommers, 2010; Schweitzer and Saks, 2007), the majority of participants in this study were impressed with their real-life VR experiences. Thus, VR appears to be an exception in the way fictional representations have affected its consumers.

KeywordsVirtual reality; expectations; consumers; fiction; media influence; head mounted displays; virtual reality; expectations; consumers, fiction; media influence, head mounted displays
Year2018
JournalRefractory
Journal citation30
PublisherSwinburne University of Technology
ISSN1447-4905
Official URLhttps://refractory-journal.com/30-kaylee-graves/
Publication dates
Online03 Jul 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited26 Jul 2018
Accepted26 Jul 2017
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88vw9/media-influence-on-expectations-of-virtual-reality

  • 275
    total views
  • 146
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Fiction references as framing devices in extended reality news discourse
Graves-Sandriman, E. 2024. Fiction references as framing devices in extended reality news discourse. Public Understanding of Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625241277446
Covering extended reality technologies in the media
Graves, E.K. 2024. Covering extended reality technologies in the media. Abingdon Routledge, Taylor and Francis.
Media Coverage of Extended Reality Technologies: The blurred boundary between news and promotional discourse
Graves, E. 2022. Media Coverage of Extended Reality Technologies: The blurred boundary between news and promotional discourse.
The interplay between news and marketing of Extended Reality Technologies: News as a promotional tool
Graves, E. 2021. The interplay between news and marketing of Extended Reality Technologies: News as a promotional tool.
Citizens or consumers? The relationship between news and marketing of Extended Reality Technologies
Graves, E. 2021. Citizens or consumers? The relationship between news and marketing of Extended Reality Technologies.
Digital transformation with immersive technologies
Graves, E. 2021. Digital transformation with immersive technologies.
UK news coverage of extended reality technologies: analysing extended reality news discourse and its relation to product marketing
Graves, E. 2021. UK news coverage of extended reality technologies: analysing extended reality news discourse and its relation to product marketing . Prof Doc Thesis Canterbury Christ Church University School of Creative Arts and Industries
MeCCSA PGN 2018 Conference: Contemporary News Discourse Around the Globe
Graves, E. and Furze, N. 2019. MeCCSA PGN 2018 Conference: Contemporary News Discourse Around the Globe. MeCCSA Postgraduate Network. https://doi.org/10.31165/nk.2019.121
Promotional discourse in news coverage of extended reality technologies
Graves, E. 2019. Promotional discourse in news coverage of extended reality technologies.
Extended Reality Technologies: evolution, news and promotional discourse
Graves, E. 2019. Extended Reality Technologies: evolution, news and promotional discourse.
The role of fiction in news coverage of extended reality technologies
Graves, E. 2019. The role of fiction in news coverage of extended reality technologies.
MeCCSA Postgraduate Network 2018 conference special issue: Communities and the media around the globe
Graves, E. 2018. MeCCSA Postgraduate Network 2018 conference special issue: Communities and the media around the globe. MeCCSA Postgraduate Network. https://doi.org/10.31165/nk.2018.112
Virtual reality in the news: Representations and commercialisation
Graves, E. 2018. Virtual reality in the news: Representations and commercialisation.
Positive versus negative news representations of VR
Graves, E. 2018. Positive versus negative news representations of VR.
News media representations of virtual reality
Graves, E. 2017. News media representations of virtual reality.
News values and the postcolonial: An analysis of the British press
Graves, E. and Sanz Sabido, R. 2017. News values and the postcolonial: An analysis of the British press.
News values and the postcolonial: An analysis of the British press
Graves, E. and Sanz Sabido, R. 2017. News values and the postcolonial: An analysis of the British press.
News media representations of virtual reality
Graves, E. 2017. News media representations of virtual reality.
Representations of virtual reality in UK and US news (2014-2016)
Graves, E. 2017. Representations of virtual reality in UK and US news (2014-2016). Masters Thesis Canterbury Christ Church University Faculty of Arts and Humanities