Demographic factors such as age, gender and race can affect people's sense of 'presence' in VR, new research has found. The research team at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland involved more than 1,000 participants from the local community in experiencing various VR environments, ranging from a virtual buffet restaurant to a virtual doctor's office. After experiencing the VR environments, participants were asked to rate how present they felt in the environments.

The study found that likely due to the underrepresentation of diverse participants in research, there needs to be more empirical data on racial differences in VR experiences. In this study, black participants consistently reported feeling more presence than white participants. This was consistent across both older and newer studies, regardless of the type of presence measured. Asian and white participants, however, did not report a significant difference in presence. The reports of no important racial differences in presence in VR may be due to a lack of data rather than a lack of inherent differences.

The research points out that it's essential to ensure that everyone can access and benefit from the technology equally, as VR is increasingly used in critical areas such as therapy and education. Any demographic differences in presence need to be understood and addressed. In this effort, the role of VR designers and researchers is crucial. They must strive to create VR environments that are inclusive and equitable for all users and be aware of potential biases in their work.