Virtual Reality technology can be a powerful method in experimental research. The virtual context enables a higher degree of immersion and closer-to-reality experience for the participants. The cues generated in the virtual setting come closer to the ones generated in the field and consequently enables a more careful investigation of the participants’ decision-making processes. Furthermore, virtual reality opens possibilities to investigate scenarios that in real experiments would not be possible for example to cause harm or negatively affect other people. 

However, virtual reality is still an emerging technology and programming virtual sceneries that are tailored to the specific research purpose can be a practical challenge. We hope and think it is likely that this will be less of a challenge in the near future as the technology increasingly gains attention from users in research and developers.

As the equipment hopefully will be of great use to our associated researchers and bring new quality to research in cognitive and behavioral science, COBE Lab will establish two virtual reality labs. There will be a stationary set-up in each room. The following equipment will be available in the beginning of 2018:

·        HTC VIVE VR headset kit (x 2) with extra base stations (x 4)

·        HTC VIVE Deluxe Audio Strap (x 2)

·        HTC Bionocular add-on (x 1)

·        Computer HP Elitedesk 800 Advanced with GTX 1080 Graphics Card (x 2)