Do We Need 3D to See? Impact of Dimensionality of the Virtual Environment on Attention

Virtual Reality allows users to experience realistic environments in an immersive and controlled manner, particularly beneficial for contexts where the real scenario is not easily or safely accessible. The choice between 360° content and 3D models impacts outcomes such as perceived quality and computational cost, but can also affect user attention. This study explores how attention manifests in VR using a 3D model or a 360° image rendered from said model during visuospatial tasks. User tests revealed no significant difference in workload or cybersickness between these types of content, while sense of presence was reportedly higher in the 3D environment.