Abstract:
Virtual reality (VR) and immersive media provide a unique experimental space for testing and extending psychological and communication theories. In this talk, I’ll walk through how immersive environments have been used to study human experience—not only as platforms for message delivery, but as media with their own psychological effects. I’ll highlight how the field has evolved from examining message-based influences to exploring how immersion itself shapes cognition, emotion, and behavior. Drawing on recent research, I’ll discuss how VR enables controlled, yet ecologically rich simulations that help us observe human responses in ways that traditional media cannot.
Mike Yao:
Mike Yao is Professor and Director of the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. His research bridges communication, behavioral science, and human–technology interaction. He leads interdisciplinary projects exploring how immersive and intelligent media shape human experience, with a particular focus on VR as a platform for studying perception, emotion, and social behavior.
This event will be presented hybrid, refreshments are provided.
Link for Virtual Attendees: https://go.illinois.edu/immerseseminar102325