Temperature Matters: Thermal Feedback for Awe Experiences in VR
Alexander Marquardt, Marvin Lehnort, Melissa Steininger, Ernst Kruijff, Kiyoshi Kiyokawa, Monica Perusquía-Hernández · 2025
This work explores how thermal feedback can enhance awe experiences in virtual reality (VR). We developed a custom thermal feedback system integrated into a VR headset that delivers temperature sensations to the user’s face while viewing vast scenes of snow-covered mountains and desert canyons. Our results show that thermal feedback significantly enhanced presence measures while influencing specific components of awe experiences, specifically those related to physical sensations.