Research

@inproceedings{Pestelli_IMX_2026,

title = {The Impact of Haptics on User Presence in Virtual Reality},

author = {Matteo Pestelli and Erica Rocchi and Marco Carli},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3788851.3812846},

doi = {10.1145/3788851.3812846},

isbn = {9798400724480},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-09},

urldate = {2026-06-09},

booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2026 ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences},

pages = {693-696},

publisher = {ACM},

series = {IMX '26},

abstract = {This work explores the integration of advanced haptic feedback within an immersive Virtual Reality educational framework, specifically applied to planetary science. The purpose of this demo is to showcase how haptic technologies can enhance learning experiences in VR-based learning environments. The proposed experience is structured around an effective storyline and utilizes state-of-the-art haptic gloves to present a four-stage interactive lesson on Mercury. The system leverages thermal modulation, vibrotactile texturing, and force feedback to allow learners to physically perceive the planet’s extreme temperature gradients and cratered topography.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{Ferrarotti_IMX_2026,

title = {Beyond Digital Replication: Designing an Interactive and Multisensory VR Museum Experience},

author = {Anna Ferrarotti and Manuela Viscontini and Alessia Lorenzi and Ivan Legnaioli and Vincenzo Mauro and Valentina Cancilla and Andrea di Meo and Federico Capriuoli and Matias Guerra and Marcos Valdes and Marco Carli},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3788851.3805022},

doi = {10.1145/3788851.3805022},

isbn = {9798400724480},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-09},

booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2026 ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences},

issue = {IMX'26},

pages = {65–74},

publisher = {ACM},

abstract = {Immersive Virtual Reality applications are increasingly adopted in museums to complement physical visits by enabling close inspection, alternative viewpoints, and multimodal storytelling. However, the effectiveness of cultural heritage immersive experiences depends not only on technical fidelity but also on design choices related to interaction paradigms, narrative pacing, and multisensory coherence. This paper presents the design, implementation, and validation of a standalone Virtual Museum experience developed in collaboration with the Roman National Museum, focusing on Palazzo Altemps (Rome, Italy) and a selected subset of artworks from the museum collection. The experience is designed as a guided tour through three rooms, each defined by a distinct level of interaction (passive, active, and interactive), to explore how different modalities support engagement and knowledge dissemination. High-fidelity assets were acquired via photogrammetry and optimized for real-time rendering on Meta Quest 3 using Unreal Engine. A pilot user study with 24 participants evaluated Quality of Experience and perceived learning through validated subjective measures and a knowledge questionnaire. Results indicate consistently high perceived audiovisual quality and involvement, low cybersickness onset, and positive self-assessment of acquired knowledge. Notably, participants did not necessarily prefer the most interactive room, suggesting that coherent narrative structure, multisensory pacing, and embodied exploration can be as engaging as explicit object manipulation. The paper contributes a design-oriented account of a complete cultural heritage Virtual Reality pipeline and derives practical insights supporting the definition of grounded guidelines for effective immersive museum experiences.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}