Phenomenological status of virtual reality in immersive digital environments

Abstract

In contemporary scientific discourse, virtual reality is acquiring the status of a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that extends beyond purely technological tools and becomes a specific space of human experience. The relevance of the study is due to the need to comprehend virtual reality through the lens of phenomenology, thereby enabling the revelation of the mechanisms underlying the formation of the sense of presence, embodiment, and meaning-making in immersive digital environments. The objective of the article is to conceptualize the phenomenological status of virtual reality in immersive digital environments, identify the key characteristics of the immersive experience, and develop a model of user interaction with the virtual environment. Methods. The study employs the method of theoretical generalization to systematize scientific approaches to understanding virtual reality; systems analysis to identify the structural components of immersive experience and their interconnections; phenomenological interpretation to conceptualize the user's subjective experience in a virtual environment; and modeling to construct a conceptual model of the phenomenological status of virtual reality within immersive digital environments. Results. The research results include the development of a conceptual model of the phenomenological status of virtual reality, integrating perceptual, embodied, and intentional aspects of experience. The key characteristics of immersive experience are identified, including presence, embodiment, sensory richness, interactivity, and emotional resonance. A structural-functional mechanism of interaction between «human – virtual environment» is proposed, reflecting the transformation of sensory stimuli into the user's cognitive-emotional experience, and demonstrating that the sense of presence acts as a key mediator between the technological component of the environment and the user’s subjective experience. Conclusions. The results expand the theoretical understanding of virtual reality as a lived experience and provide a foundation for further interdisciplinary research on immersive digital environments. The proposed approach contributes to the development of the methodology for analyzing human interaction with digital environments and opens up prospects for empirical studies of immersive experience quality.