2026-10-21T06:44:42Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/requestoai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/122852026-10-21T00:05:30Zcom_10259_4219com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_4220
Exploring age-related differences in immersive Virtual Reality experiences for Cultural Heritage
Rodríguez García, Bruno
Miguel Alonso, Inés
Checa Cruz, David
Bustillo Iglesias, Andrés
Virtual Reality
Human Computer Interaction
User experience
Children
Age
User Centered Design
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.
2026-10-20T09:18:52Z
2026-10-20T09:18:52Z
2026-09
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
1434-9957
https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12285
10.1007/s10055-026-01409-z
1434-9957
eng
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).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Atribución 4.0 Internacional
Springer Nature