Explaining and investigating the concepts, levels and factors that make up the sense of place in metaverse environments with regard to meta variables
Mahyar Arab Bour Bour1*, Shiva yaghmaei
1- PhD Candidate, Department of Architecture, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran, mahyararabbourbour@gmil.com
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran, sh_yaghmaei@yahoo.com
Abstract
Advancements in digital technologies have significantly impacted many aspects of our lives, such that they have led to new concepts in areas like the sense of place. This study aims to investigate the concepts, levels, and constituent factors of the sense of place by conducting a comparative study of the tangible environment and considering nine influential meta-variables in metaverse environments. The research method is qualitative and of the descriptive-analytical type, utilizing library research for data collection. Initially, the research delves into the conceptualization, development, and layers of the metaverse, followed by the classification of the nine sensory-spatial meta-variables, which include: the sense of unique presence, interactivity, transcendence of time, hypermobility, continuity and permanence, artificial intelligence, multisensory immersive media, the internet of thoughts, and quadruple reality. Subsequently, the study examines theories and approaches to the sense of place in light of the perspectives of various theorists in phenomenology and positivism, analyzing the constituent factors in both the cognitive-perceptual and physical dimensions. Finally, the different levels of the sense of place, in the presence of meta-variables, are explored. Consequently, based on comparative analyses, the metaverse, due to sensory meta-variables, not only has a sense of place but also encompasses a sense of belonging to a place and aspects such as memory-making, sacrifice, and attachment.