ABSTRACT
In this volume, I have shown that immersive media have a long history, first as a fantastic imagining of the possibility of accessing a parallel universe, then as a technical quest to materialise abstract concepts through the use of computers so that these can be accessible to our human senses. Throughout this journey from science-fiction to technical reality, a number of important concepts have emerged. Concepts such as telepresence and Spatial Presence have helped push the boundaries of what we consider a “real” experience. By investigating these concepts, research on VR has highlighted that what we consider a perceptual world is a combination between sensory stimuli and the way in which our brain fills the gaps. I have also shown that the study of immersive media makes the role of the body in cognition come to the fore. In many fields, such as psychology and medicine, the uses of VR are expanding because these technologies compel us to understand media not only as external texts, but as lived experiences. However, the proper use of immersive technologies in the media industries, especially in journalism, is still unclear.
