Exploring past trends and current challenges of human computer interaction (HCI) design: What does this mean for the design of virtual environments?

This chapter investigates the potential of aesthetics in the design of Human-Computer Interactions (HCI). In particular, it aims to provide a means by which aesthetics can be applied in photorealistic virtual reality (VR) to create ‘engaging’ experiences. Indeed, the author suggests that much can be gained from looking at the aesthetics of photorealistic VR content as opposed to solely looking at the more traditional HCI approaches that have mainly concentrated on the performance and efficiency issues of the technology. The chapter is motivated by the very notion that the aesthetic potential of photorealistic VR content is, and continues to be, underestimated whilst the emphasis on the development of newer and more efficient technologies to create engaging VR experiences increases. Challenging this, a comparative analysis will be performed on two photorealistic virtual environments and the findings will demonstrate how both form (i.e. aesthetic) and functionality (efficiency and performance issues) need to be considered in tandem in order to create engaging VR experiences. In demonstrating this, the chapter aims to not only successfully highlight the experiential side of photorealistic VR, but also advance the idea of the ‘engaged’ interaction (i.e. a new ‘design’ drive for HCI