Presence

Spatial storytelling in VR allows visitors to feel truly present in the world they inhabit, and elicits stronger, more visceral connections to the events and characters depicted.

One of the most distinctive aspects of spatial storytelling in VR is its ability to evoke a strong sense of presence in the audience, regardless of the level of realism in the virtual world. Because of the immersive realism of the digital environment, which responds to our movements in a way that mirrors how we navigate in the real world, participants feel as if they are truly present somewhere else. In VR, visitors can experience stories first-hand and get a sense of faraway places that would be unsafe, difficult or downright impossible to access in real life.

By bringing real or metaphysical realities to life, spatial storytelling can bring a new sense of urgency to events or issues that, despite their gravity and universal relevance, may have lost their potency over time – whether they’re related to history, nature, society or questions about our inner selves. Spatial storytelling's ability to momentarily place the audience in the same boat as others, both metaphorically and literally, makes it a particularly compelling medium for telling stories that seek to evoke empathy, inspire action and effect change.

Audiences can be teleported, physically and emotionally, to distant destinations in the world – as well as to spaces within. Spatial storytelling also makes it possible to travel inside the mind, through the painful memories of a refugee or the inner thoughts and monologues of someone struggling with mental health.

In conclusion, Spatial Storytelling in VR creates a profound sense of presence and empathy, bridging the gap between distant realities and inner worlds, ultimately inspiring action and promoting change in the participant.