PT Journal
AU Wallet, G
   Sauzéon, H
   Rodrigues, J
   N’Kaoua, B
TI Transfer of spatial knowledge from a virtual environment to reality: Impact of route complexity and subject’s strategy on the exploration mode
SO JVRB - Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting
PY 2009
VL 6(2009)
IS 4
DI 10.20385/1860-2037/6.2009.4
DE Exocentric/Egocentric referential/strategy; Exploration mode; Knowledge transfer; Route complexity; Spatial cognition; Virtual reality; Wayfinding
AB The use of virtual reality as tool in the area of spatialcognition raises the question of the quality oflearning transfer from a virtual to a real environment.It is first necessary to determine with healthysubjects, the cognitive aids that improve the qualityof transfer and the conditions required, especiallysince virtual reality can be used as effective tool incognitive rehabilitation. The purpose of this studywas to investigate the influence of the explorationmode of virtual environment (Passive vs. Active)according to Route complexity (Simple vs. Complex)on the quality of spatial knowledge transfer in threespatial tasks.Ninety subjects (45 men and 45 women)participated. Spatial learning was evaluated byWayfinding, sketch-mapping and pictureclassification tasks in the context of the Bordeauxdistrict. In the Wayfinding task, results indicated thatactive learning in a Virtual Environment (VE)increased the performances compared to the passivelearning condition, irrespective of the routecomplexity factor. In the Sketch-mapping task, activelearning in a VE helped the subjects to transfer theirspatial knowledge from the VE to reality, but onlywhen the route was complex. In the Pictureclassification task, active learning in a VE when theroute was complex did not help the subjects totransfer their spatial knowledge. These results areexplained in terms of knowledge levels andframe/strategy of reference [SW75, PL81, TH82].
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