5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[HTT17-P04] Spatiotemporal Extension of Nature Experiences Driven by Technological Innovation
— A Glimpse of the True Natural Environment via Complementation of the Real and the Virtual
Keywords:Cyberforest, environmental education, information communication technology
In recent years, the rapid development of virtual reality (VR)-related technologies, coupled with the strict behavioral restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, has promoted attempts in various fields (e.g., tourism and education) to virtually experience diverse natural environments (e.g., forests and oceans). The real and virtual are rapidly blending together in a variety of settings, such as conversation, purchasing, and finance, However, to be classified as a virtual nature experience, the word "virtual" should denote "real" in the original sense of the word; therefore, careful consideration is needed for the appropriate and effective use of the real and virtual in the experience of nature.
Previously, activities undertaken to experience nature, whether for tourism or education, could only be absolutely real, that is, a physical experience via visiting the actual site. As a consequence, most of the virtual nature experiences that were unavoidably and opportunistically conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic were merely substitutes for the conventional real nature experiences. Such a system, which attempts to replace real nature experiences with virtual ones, is fraught with the risk of limiting the value and potential of such experiences. This risk can be attributed to the conventional real experience of nature not necessarily being ideal and complete.
A huge spatiotemporal gap exists between nature and human beings. For example, the lifespan of trees that constitute a forest often extends into hundreds of years, which leads to a large temporal gap between humans and trees. Furthermore, in the current scenario, a spatial gap is created as increasingly more people live in urban environments, where the natural environment is often remote and difficult to experience on a frequent basis in their daily lives. Therefore, a real experience of nature is only a momentary experience of a part of the natural environment that lies beyond this spatiotemporal gap, and thus, in this respect, can barely be considered ideal or complete. Virtual experiences of nature have the potential to overcome this spatiotemporal gap and provide a long-term, wide-area experience of nature that is difficult to obtain during the real experience.
In terms of a true nature experience, virtual is no substitute for real, but rather should be positioned as complementary, in a manner that overcomes the structural limitations that real has faced till date. The virtual experience of nature is an invitation to expand the conventional experience, and also to experience something similar to the true nature. Rachel Carson's “sense of wonder” is often cited in the field of nature experience, but the wonder that people feel during real experiences of nature is extremely limited. In contrast, virtual experiences, which are spatiotemporally expanded to provide a true glimpse of nature, could impart a more profound sense of wonder.
Previously, activities undertaken to experience nature, whether for tourism or education, could only be absolutely real, that is, a physical experience via visiting the actual site. As a consequence, most of the virtual nature experiences that were unavoidably and opportunistically conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic were merely substitutes for the conventional real nature experiences. Such a system, which attempts to replace real nature experiences with virtual ones, is fraught with the risk of limiting the value and potential of such experiences. This risk can be attributed to the conventional real experience of nature not necessarily being ideal and complete.
A huge spatiotemporal gap exists between nature and human beings. For example, the lifespan of trees that constitute a forest often extends into hundreds of years, which leads to a large temporal gap between humans and trees. Furthermore, in the current scenario, a spatial gap is created as increasingly more people live in urban environments, where the natural environment is often remote and difficult to experience on a frequent basis in their daily lives. Therefore, a real experience of nature is only a momentary experience of a part of the natural environment that lies beyond this spatiotemporal gap, and thus, in this respect, can barely be considered ideal or complete. Virtual experiences of nature have the potential to overcome this spatiotemporal gap and provide a long-term, wide-area experience of nature that is difficult to obtain during the real experience.
In terms of a true nature experience, virtual is no substitute for real, but rather should be positioned as complementary, in a manner that overcomes the structural limitations that real has faced till date. The virtual experience of nature is an invitation to expand the conventional experience, and also to experience something similar to the true nature. Rachel Carson's “sense of wonder” is often cited in the field of nature experience, but the wonder that people feel during real experiences of nature is extremely limited. In contrast, virtual experiences, which are spatiotemporally expanded to provide a true glimpse of nature, could impart a more profound sense of wonder.