About this Research Topic
The recent global pandemic has contributed to the acceleration of technological advancement, particularly in relation to digital connectivity, automation, immersion, and remote applications. With 5G and satellite Internet constellations, extended reality (XR) including virtual; augmented; mixed reality experiences, and metaverse, an integrated and immersive virtual world will become more accessible worldwide, including in remote regions. As it stands, there is a demand for evidence-based technologies that can be utilised to mitigate some of the well-being and sustainability challenges we face on our planet, and off of it. With climate change, the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and the dawn of space-age II, this has never been truer.
Over the years a large body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that 3DOF and 6DOF, 360-degree and full (3D) VR extended experiences can be valuable tools here on Earth to address some of the environmental social, mental health and medical challenges we face. The recent progress in research and development has also provided a glimpse into how this form of technology can be utilised in remote, austere, isolated, confined, or extreme environments. For example, in recent times, XR technologies are considered as tools that can be used to mitigate some of the risks and challenges associated with prolonged space flight and our expansion into the solar system, including journeys to low Earth orbit (LEO), near-Earth orbit (NEO), Moon, Gateway, Lagrange points (LGPs), Mars, Deep Space, and Interstellar missions.
Immersive experiences have been successfully studied and utilised on the ISS to provide a source of motivation and inspiration or to enhance daily activities. In the future, on prolonged missions that will see human beings return to the Moon and beyond, they can also offer spacefares an escape from the daily stressors and challenges of their surrounding environment.
This special issue calls out to scientists and researchers with expertise or a special interest in the benefits of Extended Reality for Social Impact, we are particularly interested in how XR technologies can be applied in human space exploration and to promote Sustainability.
We are looking for submissions on a wide range of topics, some examples of suggested topics are listed below. Please note that is not an exhaustive list but rather an indicator of topic areas, so do get in touch with the corresponding lead editor to discuss your proposed topic and whether it is suitable for this special issue.
The proposed research areas include human space exploration; space medicine; planetary habitation and work; ICE (isolated, confined, extreme) environments; analogue missions; space architecture; art and design; extra-terrestrial habitats; Polar exploration; underwater issues; marine constructions; space stations, transfer and away-vehicles, microgravity environments; sustainability; resiliency; remote working; remote collaboration; in-space manufacturing; telepresence; simulation and training; artificial intelligence supported systems; remote safety-critical aspects; sensory research; emotions; immersive education; Indigenous communities; remote communities; virtual museums; digital heritage; virtual tourism; telemedicine, affective computing techniques, mental health, and well-being; sports technology; longevity; eye-tracking and evaluation in XR; search, sustainable and pro social applications, rescue and recovery; law and jurisprudence; ethics and spirituality; quantum, space and spatiality.
This issue provides a platform for transdisciplinary research outputs that usually do not fit into a distinct or specialised scientific journal. Authors from STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics/medicine), HASS (humanities and social sciences), and non-binary extended realities are welcome to submit contributions.
Over the years a large body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that 3DOF and 6DOF, 360-degree and full (3D) VR extended experiences can be valuable tools here on Earth to address some of the environmental social, mental health and medical challenges we face. The recent progress in research and development has also provided a glimpse into how this form of technology can be utilised in remote, austere, isolated, confined, or extreme environments. For example, in recent times, XR technologies are considered as tools that can be used to mitigate some of the risks and challenges associated with prolonged space flight and our expansion into the solar system, including journeys to low Earth orbit (LEO), near-Earth orbit (NEO), Moon, Gateway, Lagrange points (LGPs), Mars, Deep Space, and Interstellar missions.
Immersive experiences have been successfully studied and utilised on the ISS to provide a source of motivation and inspiration or to enhance daily activities. In the future, on prolonged missions that will see human beings return to the Moon and beyond, they can also offer spacefares an escape from the daily stressors and challenges of their surrounding environment.
This special issue calls out to scientists and researchers with expertise or a special interest in the benefits of Extended Reality for Social Impact, we are particularly interested in how XR technologies can be applied in human space exploration and to promote Sustainability.
We are looking for submissions on a wide range of topics, some examples of suggested topics are listed below. Please note that is not an exhaustive list but rather an indicator of topic areas, so do get in touch with the corresponding lead editor to discuss your proposed topic and whether it is suitable for this special issue.
The proposed research areas include human space exploration; space medicine; planetary habitation and work; ICE (isolated, confined, extreme) environments; analogue missions; space architecture; art and design; extra-terrestrial habitats; Polar exploration; underwater issues; marine constructions; space stations, transfer and away-vehicles, microgravity environments; sustainability; resiliency; remote working; remote collaboration; in-space manufacturing; telepresence; simulation and training; artificial intelligence supported systems; remote safety-critical aspects; sensory research; emotions; immersive education; Indigenous communities; remote communities; virtual museums; digital heritage; virtual tourism; telemedicine, affective computing techniques, mental health, and well-being; sports technology; longevity; eye-tracking and evaluation in XR; search, sustainable and pro social applications, rescue and recovery; law and jurisprudence; ethics and spirituality; quantum, space and spatiality.
This issue provides a platform for transdisciplinary research outputs that usually do not fit into a distinct or specialised scientific journal. Authors from STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics/medicine), HASS (humanities and social sciences), and non-binary extended realities are welcome to submit contributions.
Keywords: Human-computer interaction, extended reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, augmented reality, space exploration, extreme environments, future, futures thinking, foresight, tele medicine, ICE isolated confined environments, astronautics, analogue, simulation, space and society, spaceflight
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
