The Experience of Immersive Virtual Reality: A Phenomenology Inspired Inquiry

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) technology is becoming central for Information Systems (IS) research. However, existing studies in IS fall short of providing insights into how the IVR experience becomes meaningful end-users. To increase granularity and specificity this regard, researchers have suggested that can become due to its fleeting feeling escapism. In paper, I explore characterize individuals use create meaning context escapism, by undertaking a phenomenology inspired inquiry, based on Heideggerian views meaning, meaningfulness, world. Interviews analysis were conducted within an empirical case fire safety training. As result, four characteristics as form escapism unveiled: sense content, familiarity, mood, care. Throughout study, offer nuanced perspective contribute clarifying distinctions relationship between well provides alternative individual’s being-in-the-world, being-in-the-virtual-world, also known Dasein. Further, study contributes field advancing current discourse research from phenomenological perspective.