Quantifying Empathy in Virtual Reality: An Outline

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the research undertaken hitherto on quantifying empathy in virtual reality (VR). In this paper we have discussed various methodologies used for testing the impact on empathy vis-à-vis virtual reality, and then classified the end-results of the research in various categories such as the racial discrimination, ethnic and religious prejudice, the poor and the homeless, children who are differently-abled, war victims and disease induced typecasting. We have also proposed three niches which provide a framework to group various categories as aforementioned. The paper discusses how effectively virtual reality has addressed or contributed in alleviating biases or predispositions people have towards various stereotyped classes and how virtual reality has aided to empathize with the people impacted by the numerous difficulties. The paper also recommends how further research and various methods need to be integrated with the existing modus operandi to study the impact on empathy meticulously.