Cognitive Psychology & Virtual Reality Systems

The purpose of this research is to review the interactive effects and influences between cognitive psychology and the development of computerbased virtual reality systems. Computer based virtual reality systems are defined, and the applications of the technology are discussed prior to the review of the interactive effects and influences between cognitive psychology and the development of computerbased virtual reality systems.

Virtual Reality Systems: Definitions and Applications

Virtual reality is a technology that is more commonly associated with combat pilot activities and computer games than with the more scholarly pursuits (Laurel, 1991, p. 3). The cyberspace of virtual reality, however, promises to be highly useful in the practice of many scholarly and even more mundane activities (Laurel, 1986, p. 296).

Virtual reality systems attempt to create threedimensional "worlds than can be experienced from inside . . ., and manipulated" (Taubes, 1994, p. 70). Virtual reality, thus, "allows people to enter electronic worlds and act in those worlds as they might act in a similar setting in the real world" (Virtual, 1994, p. 4).

Virtual reality systems use computerized gear to create a believable threedimensional world (Freiman, 1994, p. 8). As such, virtual reality systems represent a form of presentation technology. There are two widely accepted conceptualizations of

presentation technologythe physical

. . .
91, p. 26). Organization refers to an ability to order and classify new experiences, while adaptation enables an individual to understand the surrounding environment. Adaptation occurs through the functioning of the mental processes of assimilation and accommodation (Turner and Helms, 1991, pp. 2627). Assimilation involves the perception and interpretation of new information within the context of existing knowledge and understanding. Accommodation is a more advanced process that involves the restructuring of mental organization in order to include new information. Assimilation and accommodation, along with equilibration and functional assimilation, are stageindependent conceptions in Piaget's cognitive theory of human development (Lerner, 1991, pp. 246250). Equilibration refers to the balance between the action of an organism on its environment and the action of the environment on the organism. Functional assimilation is the concept that explains why human development continues after equilibration has been attained. Cognitive theory incorporates some aspects of behavioral theory. An assumption central to cognitive theory is that an individual's emotional and behavioral responses to events in one's life are greatly influe
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Epstein Harrison, Turner Helms, Turvey Carello, Lewis Harcleroad, Fodor Pylyshyn, Applications Virtual, Winnograd Flores, Reality Systems, Stanford University, virtual reality, Arthur Chrysler, virtual reality systems, reality systems, computerbased virtual reality, cognitive psychology, computerbased virtual, presentation technology, epstein 1986, 1990 pp, development computerbased virtual, development computerbased, physical science, human development, virtual reality technology, 1990 pp 222233,
Approximate Word count = 4536
Approximate Pages = 18 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Cognitive Psychology & Virtual Reality Systems