Recent Advances and Application of Virtual Reality

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of virtual reality (VR) has sparked a wave of innovation, with ground-breaking applications in fields as diverse as entertainment, healthcare, education and industry. From immersive gaming experiences and therapeutic interventions to virtual training simulations and digital twins, VR is reshaping how we interact with information, each other and the world around us. As VR technology continues to mature, it opens new frontiers for interdisciplinary research, integrating insights from computer science, psychology, cognitive science and human–computer interactions.

This Special Issue seeks to capture the current state of the art and future directions of VR research and development. We invite submissions that delve into the latest advancements in VR hardware, software and content creation, as well as innovative applications that harness the power of VR to address real-world challenges and opportunities. We also encourage contributions that explore the potential of VR to enhance human capabilities, foster creativity and drive social impact. We are also interested in studies that investigate the cognitive and psychological effects of VR, including how immersive environments influence perception, learning and behavior. Furthermore, contributions that assess the ethical implications of VR, such as privacy concerns, accessibility and the long-term societal impact, are highly valued.

The suggested themes and article types for submissions include the following:

• Novel Technologies and Interfaces: New hardware, software and interaction techniques that enhance immersion, realism and user experience in VR environments.
• Education and Training: Research works that examine how VR can revolutionize learning experiences through immersive simulations, interactive training modules and virtual field trips.
• Applications in Healthcare: Studies related to the use of VR for medical training, therapy, pain management, rehabilitation and mental health interventions.
• Applications in Culture, Tourism and Creative Industries: Studies that present VR usage in history, cultural events and enhancing touristic experience.
• Application in Engineering: Studies related to manufacturing and I4.0 ecosystem.
• VR for Social Interaction and Collaboration: Studies that investigate the impact of VR on social dynamics, communication and collaboration in virtual spaces.
• VR in Art, Entertainment and Gaming: Showcases of creative and artistic uses of VR, as well as innovative game design and interactive storytelling experiences.
• Ethical Considerations and Social Impact of VR: Position papers that discuss the ethical challenges and societal implications of widespread VR adoption, including privacy, accessibility and potential psychological effects.

In this Special Issue, both original research articles and reviews are welcome. We encourage submissions that present novel findings, critical analyses and future directions in the field of virtual reality.

Prof. Dr. Chrysostomos Stylios
Dr. Athanasios Christopoulos
Dr. Stylianos Mystakidis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.