Investigation of the physiological differences in the immersive virtual reality environment and real indoor environment: Focused on skin temperature and thermal sensation

The goal of this research is to investigate and determine whether the effect of an IVE condition on an occupant's environmental sensations and physiological responses is different from the effect of a real environmental condition in the indoor environment. The research included a series of human subject experiments, with 16 participants in an environmental chamber. A thermal quality condition was selected as a primary environmental parameter, based on current IEQ-relevant studies. While the ambient thermal condition was gradually changed from 20 °C to 30 °C, the participants were asked to report their overall thermal sensations. Their skin temperatures were also continuously measured to collect physiological signal information in real time. The results of this experimental study revealed that the participants mostly generated higher skin temperature at the selected seven skin areas. Their reported thermal sensations were significantly higher in the IVE condition, than in the real environment, showing a difference of 12%. [Display omitted] •Most thermal sensations in the IVE showed higher temperatures than those in a real environment.•The heart-rates (HR) of Males and high BMI group in the real environment were higher than those in the IVE.•Females and low BMI group in the real environment and the IVE showed no HR differences.•Overall thermal sensations showed HR differences in the IVE and real environments.•In warm conditions, the HR were mostly higher in the IVE than those in the real environment.