Some Times Fly: The Effects of Engagement and Environmental Dynamics on Time Perception in Virtual Reality

An hour spent with friends seems shorter than an hour waiting for a medical appointment. Many physiological and psychological factors, such as body temperature and emotions, have been shown to correlate with our subjective perception of time. Experiencing virtual reality (VR) has been observed to make users significantly underestimate the duration. This paper explores the effect of virtual environment characteristics on time perception, focusing on two key parameters: user engagement and environmental dynamics. We found that increased presence and interaction with the environment significantly decreased the users’ estimation of the VR experience duration. Furthermore, while a dynamic environment lacks significance in shifting perception toward one specific direction, that is, underestimation or overestimation of the durations, it significantly distorts perceived temporal length. Exploiting these two factors’ influence smartly constitutes a powerful tool in designing intelligent and adaptive virtual environments that can reduce stress, alleviate boredom, and improve well-being by adjusting the pace at which we experience the passage of time.