Virtual Reality Viewing of Unaltered Streetscape Versus Digitally Manipulated Opposite Streetscape to Assess Psychosocial Response in Participants

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Compare sympathetic autonomic measures (heart rate variability and skin conductance) between participants viewing, in virtual reality, their streetscape as a digitally manipulated opposite version with respect to physical disorder indicators versus participants viewing their streetscape as a digital twin with respect to physical disorder indicators.

II. Compare self-report measures (Self-Assessment Manikin and state anxiety ratings) between participants viewing, in virtual reality, their streetscape as a digitally manipulated opposite version with respect to physical disorder indicators versus participants viewing their streetscape as a digital twin with respect to physical disorder indicators.

III. Record side effects of interacting within a virtual reality environment over short periods of time (3-5 min):

IIIa. Quantify frequency of side effects; IIIb. Explore whether side effects increase across subsequent VR sessions of the cross-over study; IIIc. Explore whether side effects vary by VR intervention arm (digital twin of own streetscape or digitally manipulated opposite indicators of physical disorder of own streetscape).

IV. Analyze impact of covariates on study outcomes.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Compare eye gaze density between participants viewing, in virtual reality, their streetscape as a digitally manipulated opposite version with respect to physical disorder indicators versus participants viewing their streetscape as a digital twin with respect to physical disorder indicators.

II. Compare self-report measures (neighborhood social cohesion and neighborhood disorder) between participants viewing, in virtual reality, their streetscape as a digitally manipulated opposite version with respect to physical disorder indicators versus participants viewing their streetscape as a digital twin with respect to physical disorder indicators.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized within their residing neighborhood to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Participants have their streetscape photographed. Participants view a standard residential streetscape using virtual reality (VR) for up to 5 minutes. Patients then view a digital twin of their streetscape with identical physical disorder using VR for up to 5 minutes followed by viewing their streetscape with the opposite physical disorder using VR for up to 5 minutes.

ARM II: Participants have their streetscape photographed. Participants view a standard residential streetscape using VR for up to 5 minutes. Patients then view their streetscape with the opposite physical disorder using VR for up to 5 minutes followed by viewing a digital twin of their streetscape with identical physical disorder using VR for up to 5 minutes.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults 18+
• Must currently live (4+ night/week) at the residence being studied. Only one resident per household will be selected
• Must understand and be able to read English
• Must agree to have residence photographed
• Must be able to wear a VR head mounted display
• Must live in neighborhood that has been selected for study
• Must be willing and able to attend an approximately 2 hour in-person visit on Ohio State University (OSU) campus

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women
• Visual or mobility impairment
• Cannot have epilepsy or other condition that would inhibit them from being able to use a VR headset