Virtual Reality and Cognitive Sciences (VIRC)

Guest Editors 

Ilona Heldal, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences,  Bergen, Norway, ilona.heldal@hvl.no
Attila Kövári, University of Dunaújváros, Hungary, kovari@uniduna.hu  

Scope 

We are surrounded by a growing variety of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and applications, influencing our everyday life and work. To realize the full potential of these technological developments, a thorough understanding of cognitive factors regarding users’ perception and usage of VR technology is necessary.  
     This special issue welcomes articles that point out and examine the importance of considering cognitive problems in the design, development or use of VR solutions. Systematic approaches analyzing cognitive issues through empirical methods, evaluations, tests, as well as through theoretical methods or frameworks are welcome.  We also welcome papers from the Cognitive Infocommunications (CIC) area, an interdisciplinary research field examining the importance of cognitive capabilities in engineering applications that enable artificial and/or natural cognitive systems to work together more seamlessly. Knowledge about CIC and VR can provide a new view and a better understanding of information communication possibilities between humans in modern virtual-, augmented-, or mixed reality environments. Humans, ICT and VR are becoming entangled at various levels as a result of which new forms of blended cognitive capabilities are appearing. 
     Expected contributions of the special issue include the introduction of new approaches for making these complex technologies and applications more comprehensive in specific application scenarios for specific users. This can include new ideas for making technology easier to understand, use and evaluate in specific scenarios – either by making recommendations on how to further develop the technology, or by identifying key factors that currently limit their use.Papers submitted to the special issue may also report recent advances, or lessons learned from the systematic application of existing theories in new situations or for new user groups. Studies can also focus on the psychophysical or psychological effects identified at the meeting point of VR and cognitive sciences. 
Based on the above, the Journal of Virtual Reality invites original, high-quality papers for its theme issue on “Virtual Reality and Cognitive Sciences” focusing on topics including – but not restricted to: 

• enhancement of cognitive abilities using VR technologies and applications
• cognitive communication and collaboration in VR technologies and applications
• cognitive infocommunication using VR technologies and applications
• situational awareness in using VR systems
• the influence of VR systems in training and/or on learning
• spatial cognition in VR technologies and applications
• information processing in different VR technologies and applications
• attention in using VR systems
• manipulating users with VR technologies and applications
• cognitive load with VR technologies and applications
• questioning realities
• validation methodologies and frameworks for cognition and VR systems. 

Important dates 

We have been carefully monitoring the impacts of the Covid-19 on research projects, and after discussion with the Editors-in-Chiefs of Virtual Reality have tried to find an approach that accommodates everyone including those who intended to be performed and publish it in this special issue.
Therefore, we have made the decision under the current circumstances to keep submission open from the 1^st of April 2020 and postpone the final submission deadline until late October, manuscripts will go out for review as soon as submitted and accepted manuscripts will be published online immediately

Please observe

• The reviewing process begins on 1^st April 2020
• The deadline for the final submissions ends 30^th October 2020

Thank you very much for your support and understanding

Submission

Please communicate your intention to submit a paper by sending an e-mail to the editors of the special issue, with the following information: Title, Authors, and an Abstract from 300 to 500 words.
Papers must be written in a scientifically rigorous manner with adequate references to related work.  For manuscript preparation guidelines and submission instructions see: https://www.springer.com/journal/10055/submission-guidelines.