November 9, 2022
Sangwon Jung, Oğuz Buruk, Juho Hamari
11 citations
A user experience study of the commercial psychedelic virtual reality application Cosmic Flow found that the experience is characterized by moderate interaction, personal reflection, and VR ergonomics. From interviews with six participants, seven design considerations emerged for psychedelic VR: non-active engagement, positive indolence and idleness, non-invasive multi-sensory modalities, creative and introspective activities, effects of priming, virtual nature, and comfortableness. These findings guide designers and researchers working on similar experiences.
International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
July 10, 2026
Terho Ojell-Järventausta, Anatolii Belousov, Mila Bujić et al.
A scoping review of 24 empirical or proof-of-concept studies examined digitally induced altered states of consciousness (DIAL), finding immersive virtual reality, biofeedback, and artificial intelligence as the most prominent technologies, with visual, auditory, and light stimulation as common modalities. Most studies relied on self-reports, focusing on psychophysiological effects or individual differences, while only half reported effect sizes. As the first review to use the DIAL concept, it critically examines existing literature and outlines avenues for further research.
ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play
October 6, 2023
Anatolii Belousov, Terho Ojell-Järventausta, Mila Bujić et al.
Digital technologies are increasingly able to induce altered states of consciousness (ASC), a phenomenon the authors term digitally-induced altered states of consciousness (DIAL). Examples range from binaural beats to video games. The authors propose DIAL as a unified field for studying all digital technologies used to alter consciousness. They argue that the societal impact of DIAL technologies will be widespread, affecting political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) contexts. The paper outlines a research agenda to encourage interdisciplinary discussion and preparation for the ubiquity of these technologies.
Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction
October 8, 2022
S. Jung, O. Buruk, Juho Hamari
A scoping review of HCI studies on technology-driven altered states of consciousness (ASC) finds that most research has focused on psychologically induced ASCs, with extended reality (XR) and embodied interaction being common tools. Prospective directions include physical artefact design that incorporates active body movements and game or play approaches. The review identifies four themes: induction methods, experiences through artefacts, types of artefacts, and the technology used. These findings provide design knowledge for researchers and practitioners creating ASC artefacts.