Therm-Spatial: Controlling Spatial Perception with Thermal Feedback

Several studies have shown that thermal feedback provides not only detailed sensory information about an object’s temperature and properties but also contributes to emotional and spatial experiences. This study explores how thermal feedback influences human perception of distance and speed through spatial perception illusions. In a pilot study, we observed that higher temperatures made virtual objects feel closer and faster, even with identical visual cues. Building on this, a user study was conducted where participants selected a pillar based on perceived distance under varying thermal sensations in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The results confirmed that thermal feedback can alter spatial perception in VR.