From the Gym to the Jungle: Exploring User Perceptions, Needs and Experiences of Virtual Green Exercise

Zubair, Misbahu ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7604-0592, Rehman, Muhammad Atif Ur and Cheng, Jianquan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9778-9009 (2025) From the Gym to the Jungle: Exploring User Perceptions, Needs and Experiences of Virtual Green Exercise. In: The IEEE 13th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health (SeGAH 2025, 6 August 2025 - 7 August 2025, Manchester. (In Press)

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Abstract

This paper explores infrequent Virtual Reality (VR) users’ perceptions, needs and experiences of immersive virtual green exercise. Virtual green exercise involves physical activity in simulated natural environments, offering potential psychological and physiological benefits similar to traditional green exercise. Participants engaged in physical activities in both immersive virtual indoor and outdoor/green environments, with focus group discussions before and after. Findings indicate that participants valued the motivational and engaging qualities of green exercise, and viewed VR as a potential tool for simulating exercise in virtual green environments. Participants also recognized VR’s potential to overcome physical barriers to green exercise while offering additional benefits possible through digitization. However, some limitations and concerns were raised, prompting recommendations for improvements in hardware, software, and activity-environment design to better address these issues. This paper contributes to the body of research on immersive virtual green exercise by providing insights into the perceptions and experiences of infrequent VR users, while identifying user needs, preferences and potential areas for improvement.