There is already quite a bit written regarding virtual reality and children but the focus is on the risk involved in children viewing VR content on the eyesight. Most VR headset manufacturers are setting age limit for the users. Samsung Gear VR headset and Oculus Rift have 13+ age requirement. HTC however has set a warning against kids using vive. This tactic is like better safe than sorry rather than searching for the VR’s impact on growing eyes.
Talking about motion sickness and risk of hitting objects in actual life when moving to a virtual one, kids face the same issues as adults face it. Recently, the creator of Mario Bros has taken quite a cautious approach in Virtual Reality related with kids saying that more R&D needs to be done to ensure that they are safe and the parents do not have to worry.
Picture courtesy:-www.psfk.com
Mental v/s Physical & Psychological impact of VR on kids
There has been enough concern related to physical impact of VR on kids. The emotional impact is more relevant to be considered upon. The Stanford University is studying about this impact of VR on kids for more than a decade. In the year 2009, it displayed the results which aimed on the memory of children and VR. A children’s’ group played with whales underwater through VR and asked about it afterwards. Around 50% of them said that they remember the incident as if it happened in reality.
During the trailers of fantastic beasts and where to find them, kids during a scary scene take off their glasses and put their fingers into their ears. They have earlier tried only child friendly games or educational ones in VR, so they understand it as fiction or had experience something like visiting natural history museum. They feel like they are visiting something they know or familiar. The movie episode would make anyone wonder that how they would react to a story told in VR.
Picture courtesy:-www.vrheads.com
How different is storytelling in VR?
The difficulties of storytelling in VR are explained through creation of computer animated VR short interactive movie called Invasion in which a bunch of aliens come to invade earth. In that, rather than humans, earth has 2 citizens- 2 bunnies which contain the viewer as well. The story loose pace & composition when it becomes interactive but sound and visual clues were created to follow the path & also to inspire the viewer.
Interactivity is an added layer to the story which can turn out to be good as well as bad.
VR driven experiences are Virtual but emotions are real
A kid is alone in this VR world and taking off the headset is not the first thought which occurs through his mind. The whole immersive experience can turn quite terrific for a child. The parents say that a quick switch off of TV doesn’t work.
The VR content aimed at minors, especially young children must come with strict guidelines such that any physical risks doesn’t involve. Children’s aren’t the only ones who find these experiences of VR very immersive . Other platforms as well before VR like violence are big sellers for the games. It is now upon the owners of the platforms to decide what is good and what is bad. The application store owners also are with the duty of not only censoring but warn.
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