Extending HMD-based Virtual Reality through Wind and Warmth

Abstract

In recent years, the technologies in the field of virtual reality have evolved considerably. Espe-cially as a result of the further development in the field of head mounted displays, there is an increasingly broad field of application for activities in the professional and private life. Besides the optimization of the visual representation, developers are currently focusing on the integration of multimodal interaction methods and feedback strategies in order to make virtual environments increasingly more realistic. While existing systems are already able to provide users with multi-modal sensations via different sensory channels, the integration of systems for the presentation of environmental influences generally remains only slightly considered. Therefore, in this paper, we will address several aspects regarding the provision of wind and warmth in HMD-based virtual scenarios and introduce our implementation of a prototypical system which we want to discuss with the community.