A Comparison of Immersive and Non-Immersive VR for the Education of Filmmaking

Abstract

Nowadays, both IVR (Immersive VR) and NIVR (Non-immersive VR) have already been adopted by filmmakers and used in the education of filmmaking, but few studies have shown their differences in supporting learning. This article aims to compare these two forms of technology as educational tools for learning filmmaking and give suggestions on how to choose between them. Two applications with the same purpose and content were developed using IVR and NIVR technologies respectively. An experiment of within subject design was implemented using these two versions as experimental material. 39 subjects participated in experiment and the quantitative measures include presence, motivation and usability. SPSS was used for data analysis and the statistical results, together with interview reports showed that both technologies led to positive learning experience while IVR had better performance in the presence (especially in the “sensory & realism” and “involvement” subscales) and intrinsic motivation (especially in the “enjoyment” subscale) while NIVR was more accessible to the public and may provide more complex and powerful functions with sophisticated GUI. In conclusion, both technologies are capable of supporting the learning of filmmaking effectively when chosen for proper educational missions.

Acknowledgments

We would also like to acknowledge the support from the College of Arts and Media and the College of Design and Innovation during this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zhejun Liu

Zhejun Liu works as an associate professor in the College of Design and Innovation in Tongji University. He is also the founder and head of the Digital Animation and Entertainment Lab and the Immersive Simulation Lab. His fields of research include electronic games, serious games, XR experience and etc.

Yunshui Jin

Yunshui Jin is the deputy director of Arts and Media Lab and a lecturer in animation department at Tongji University. He is specialized in 3D animation and real-time rendering technologies. He has been advancing the development of VR, AR application and serious games for museum and education.

Minhua Ma

Minhua Eunice Ma is the professor of Falmouth University in the UK. She has published widely in the fields of serious games for education, medicine and healthcare, VR and AR, and has received grants from RCUK, EU, NHS, NESTA, UK government and charities for her research on serious games.

Jiachen Li

Jiachen Li is an assistant researcher in Arts and Media Lab at Tongji University. His research field include serious games, 3D animation and augmented reality.