Evaluating the Role of Real-Time and Narrated Virtual Kayaking Tours in Shaping User Experience and Memories

Immersive technologies are capable of transporting people to distant or inaccessible envi-

ronments that they might not otherwise visit, increasing opportunity for informal science

learning. Practitioners and researchers alike are discovering new ways to replicate and

enhance existing tourism experiences using virtual reality, yet few controlled experiments

have studied how users perceive virtual tours of real-world locations. This thesis con-

tributes an initial exploration of a new system for virtual tourism, measuring the effects

of real-time experiences and narration on presence, place attachment, and user memories

of the destination. Our results suggest that prerecorded and live experiences could both

be valid approaches, and that narrative can enrich user experience in several ways. We

discuss the design and evaluation of our system, including feedback from our tourism part-

ners, and provide insights into current limitations and further opportunities for virtual

tourism.