Providing informational support to HIV + women in a virtual environment : a case study comparing the effects of virtual reality and paper media for content delivery

Abstract

This dissertation presents a comparison of the effects of two media, VR and paper (i.e. pamphlets) in communicating supportive information to an HIV+ sample group. We created a VE to provide social and informational support for HIV+ people in the South African context. The design of the VE placed emphasis on creating a typically South African space which users could recognize and find familiar. Our research focused on two rooms containing virtual agents and points of possible interaction: the lounge and the kitchen. In the lounge, a HIV/Aids support group was simulated while the kitchen contained two areas which presented nutritional informational support: Diet and Cleanliness & Hygiene.