The Sensorama Revisited: Evaluating the Application of Multi-sensory Input on the Sense of Presence in 360-Degree Immersive Film in Virtual Reality

It has been suggested that 360-degree immersive film viewed in virtual environments, does not allow for a sense of presence owing to the lack of interactivity, agency and realism. This paper outlines the findings of a research project to evaluate how such a sense of presence can be enabled through the introduction of multi-sensory input to the viewing experience. Using an original 360-degree film that was shot in Hong Kong’s Chungking Mansions as a basis for research, this paper interrogates Ryan’s assertion that Virtual Reality (VR) that combines interactivity, immersion and narrativity is an example of the “total art” that VR producers need to aspire to. By adding changes in heat and scent to the viewing experience, the extent to which those sensory stimuli, which would not normally be part of a viewing experience, lead to an increased feeling of presence is evaluated. In doing so, we suggest that the viewing experience may not need all three elements of total art to be equivalent in order for a meaningful viewing experience to occur.