Exploring Everyday Environments Shadow Display Concepts in Immersive VR

Shadows are a common and familiar element of our physical world, offering an opportunity for subtle design in interactive systems for better understanding the interaction between humans and computers. With the rapid advancement of technologies, morphing shadows and modifying their appearance have become easier, enhancing the feasibility of shadow display concepts. Therefore, we explored individuals’ experiences and feelings with various shadows in virtual environments. The participants were asked to search for unusual shadows and reported their reflections and experiences on the shadows. Our results showed that participants enjoyed the virtual experience of looking for shadows and had various feelings about six different shadows. Moreover, we summarised the common features of shadows that participants favourite and might be used for further studies. In addition, they also reported that the shadow could be used to convey information, which might benefit individuals, such as individuals with hearing issues.