2026-10-21T06:45:16Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/122852026-10-21T00:05:30Zcom_10259_4219com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_4220

Rodríguez García, Bruno Miguel Alonso, Inés Checa Cruz, David Bustillo Iglesias, Andrés 2026-10-20T09:18:52Z 2026-10-20T09:18:52Z 2026-09 1434-9957 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12285 10.1007/s10055-026-01409-z 1434-9957 Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) has reached a level of technological maturity that enables its use for the general public. However, further investigation is needed into the optimization of iVR applications and particularly, their design features in relation to various user characteristics such as age and previous iVR experience. To solve this issue, this study evaluates a Cultural Heritage dissemination experience in iVR, tested in a real-world setting, the Museum of Burgos (Spain), with participants from three age groups: children, young adults, and older adults. The iVR experience was structured in four levels of progressively complex interaction. A control group was formed to view a video containing the same dissemination content. A total of 206 participants completed a three-steps assessment measuring prior knowledge, User Experience (UX), and learning outcomes. The findings emphasized that iVR's strengths, immersion and interactivity, must be strategically optimized to outperform more well-stablished dissemination formats like video. The results showed that children responded positively to high interactivity; their motivation and rapid adaptation supported the use of interactive formats, provided cognitive demands are gradually introduced. Young adults exhibited the highest adaptability and fastest completion times, performing well across all interaction types, though with moderate UX ratings. Older adults preferred soft interaction and immersive aesthetics, achieving better learning outcomes in this context but extending the time to complete the iVR experience. application/pdf eng Springer Nature Virtual Reality. 2026 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-026-01409-z Open access funding provided by FEDER European Funds and the Junta de Castilla y León under the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) of Castilla y León 2021-2027. Funding was provided by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and by the European Union"NextGenerationEU"/PRTR funds, through Humanaid project (TED2021-129485B-C43) and REMAR project (CPP2022-009724). Open access funding provided by FEDER European Funds and the Junta de Castilla y León under the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) of Castilla y León 2021-2027. Funding was provided by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and by the European Union"NextGenerationEU"/PRTR funds, through Humanaid project (TED2021-129485B-C43) and REMAR project (CPP2022-009724). Atribución 4.0 Internacional http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Virtual Reality Human Computer Interaction User experience Children Age User Centered Design Realidad virtual Virtual reality Exploring age-related differences in immersive Virtual Reality experiences for Cultural Heritage info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Virtual Reality