Barefoot Tactile Virtual Autumn Forest Experience

Virtual nature (VN) experiences can improve mood and well-being, but their effectiveness may depend on sensory coherence and user context. We conducted a user study (n = 25) in which participants walked barefoot in a virtual autumn forest while standing on different tactile stimuli (artificial grass, sand, dry leaves, empty). We measured perceived vitality, restoration, and mood using validated scales. Results show that even brief exposure to VN with tactile input can increase subjective vitality and improve mood. However, mismatches between visual and tactile cues led to discomfort or confusion in some participants, while others reinterpreted the sensory input creatively. Participants with higher nature connectedness reported greater vitality and relaxation, although for some, strong prior expectations were not met. These findings suggest that multisensory VN experiences, even when the stimuli do not fully match real-world textures, can support positive psychological outcomes when designed with attention to sensory alignment and user context.