Blowing into immersion: the effect of wind stimulation on different body areas in a VR motorcycle game

Localized airflow, as a simple and low-cost form of haptic feedback, can enhance visual and auditory experiences in virtual reality (VR). However, the effects of directing airflow to different body sites on immersion and task performance remain underexplored. This study examined the impact of localized airflow (wind-based haptics) in a VR motorcycle-riding task, focusing on how body site (no-wind, head–neck, chest, hands, shins) influences nine immersive-experience scales from the Immersive Virtual Experience Questionnaire (IVEQ) and behavioral performance (Coins, Mistakes). Using a within-subjects design (N = 25), a Latin square was employed to counterbalance the presentation order of the five airflow locations. In each condition, participants completed a 60-s VR riding task and then filled out the IVEQ (nine single-item indicators), while task performance was recorded. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA and three a priori, mutually orthogonal planned contrasts, with Sidak family-wise correction applied throughout. Results showed that, for immersive experience, Presence and Emotion were significantly higher than in the no-wind baseline, and Engagement exhibited a trend toward improvement. For task performance, no consistent enhancement was observed overall; however, a pairwise difference emerged for Mistakes, with head–neck greater than shins. Taken together, the pattern indicates improved subjective experience alongside largely unchanged objective performance. These findings offer insight into how airflow delivered to specific body regions affects VR immersion and performance and provide practical guidance for the design of wearable airflow interfaces.