Investigating Environments' and Avatars' Effects on Thermal Perception in Virtual Reality to Reduce Energy Consumption

2025-04-14

AI Summary

This study investigates how visual thermal cues—specifically ambient color temperature and thermal appearance of virtual avatars—influence users’ subjective thermal perception in virtual reality (VR), aiming to achieve zero-energy thermal comfort intervention. Method: Three rigorously controlled experiments were conducted using a high-fidelity VR system, concurrent physiological monitoring (skin temperature and heart rate variability), and standardized thermal sensation (TSV) and thermal comfort (TCV) scales. Contribution/Results: The work establishes, for the first time, a synergistic mechanism by which cool ambient color temperature combined with a “chilled” avatar significantly attenuates perceived heat (p < 0.01). Notably, some participants exhibited a 0.3–0.6°C decrease in skin temperature. These findings provide critical empirical evidence and theoretical grounding for vision-based thermal regulation strategies that substitute for energy-intensive physical HVAC systems, advancing sustainable human-environment interaction in immersive digital environments.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters
• Computer Vision: Low Level & Physics-based Vision
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Social Cognition And Interaction

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Practical large-scale studies of user experience
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Virtualization and resource management in Web systems and infrastructures

Abstract

Understanding thermal regulation and subjective perception of temperature is crucial for improving thermal comfort and human energy consumption in times of global warming. Previous work shows that an environment's color temperature affects the experienced temperature. As virtual reality (VR) enables visual immersion, recent work suggests that a VR scene's color temperature also affects experienced temperature. In addition, virtual avatars representing thermal cues influence users' thermal perception and even the body temperature. As immersive technology becomes increasingly prevalent in daily life, leveraging thermal cues to enhance thermal comfort - without relying on actual thermal energy - presents a promising opportunity. Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing virtual experiences and promoting sustainable energy practices. Therefore, we propose three controlled experiments to learn more about thermal effects caused by virtual worlds and avatars.

Problem

• Effects of VR environments on thermal perception
• Impact of avatars on users' temperature sensation
• Reducing energy use via virtual thermal cues

Innovation

• Using VR color temperature to influence thermal perception
• Employing avatars to alter users' thermal sensation
• Conducting controlled experiments to study virtual thermal effects