Immersive Media for Environmental Awareness

Abstract

This paper examines the possibility of using virtual or augmented reality to increase environmental awareness and effect change in our behaviour as consumers. It begins by framing the problem as at least partly arising from an imbalance between our powers of influence on the global environment and our powers of perception, and that our inability to see firsthand the impact of our behaviour is an impediment to green consumer behaviour. I examine how the various properties of immersive media might be used to provide us with more omniscient or optimistic perspectives, and close the gulf between our perceived and real powers of agency as environmental actors.