Education and Information Technologies 5:4 (2000): 345362
# 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Manufactured in The Netherlands
Design of Virtual Reality Systems for Education:A Cognitive Approach
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, School of Computer Science, Technical University of Madrid, Campus de
Montegancedo, 28660 Madrid, Spain. * Corresponding author. E-mail: email@example.com
JOSE MARIA BARREIRO
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, School of Computer Science, Technical University of Madrid, Campus de
Montegancedo, 28660 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, School of Computer Science, Technical University of Madrid, Campus de
Montegancedo, 28660 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: email@example.com
One of the main problems with virtual reality as a learning tool is that there are hardly any theories or models
upon which to found and justify the application development. This paper presents a model that defends the
metaphorical design of educational virtual reality systems. The goal is to build virtual worlds capable of
embodying the knowledge to be taught: the metaphorical structuring of abstract concepts looks for bodily forms
of expression in order to make knowledge accessible to students. The description of a case study aimed at learning
scientific categorization serves to explain and implement the process of metaphorical projection. Our proposals
are based on Lakoff and Johnsons theory of cognition, which defends the conception of the embodied mind,
according to which most of our knowledge relies on basic metaphors derived from our bodily experience.
Keywords: virtual reality for education; metaphor; visualization of knowledge; design of virtual reality systems.
There has been a spectacular growth in the development of virtual reality systems and
particularly special-purpose applications for education over recent years. Youngbluts work
(1998) includes and describes over seventy educational applications, all created in the
19941998 period. Other noteworthy examples of the interest raised by this technology in
the teaching field are: the appearance of electronic journals accessible via internet and
specialized in this issue (like Virtual Reality in Schools), monographic journal issues
(like Presence, volume 8, issue 3, June 1999) or the growing number of university and
private research centers involved in creating virtual worlds for education.
The prototypes and applications developed so far are aimed at different sorts of users
(children, university students, adults, pupils with cognitive or physical impairments, etc.)
and cover a wide variety of didactic contents (science, the arts, physical=motor or cognitiveskills, etc.) and pedagogical targets (improved learning, instruction, training, rehabilitation,
development of real life skills).
However, although virtual reality is a very versatile technology, it should not be used
indiscriminately in any educational program. Studying the right and applicable use of
virtual reality is a challenge, an outstanding task. What educational situations, what
disciplines or subjects and what sorts of students require this technology? Compared with
other technologies, are virtual reality systems capable of improving the quality of student
learning? When is virtual reality irreplaceable and why? What theories or models underlie
the applications that are developed?
These questions remain unanswered, as almost all the efforts carried out in this field
have focused on implementing special-purpose systems or limited-scope prototypes. The
theoretical questions related to the design of models, methodologies and evaluation have
hardly ever been addressed and studied in depth. Our research is principally motivated by
the non-existence of a theoretical foundation in this field.
This paper analyses the design of virtual reality systems as learning tools and proposes a
metaphor-based generic architecture. In the next section, we present our model of
educational virtual reality systems. The third section explains the central component of
the model, the metaphorical projection, by means of a case study that examines the
learning of taxonomic classifications. In the fourth section, we justify our proposals from
the perspective of the main findings of modern cognitive science. Finally, we summarize
the main contributions of our model and propose a brief research agenda.
A Generic Model of Virtual Reality Systems for Education
In this section, we will describe the architecture of a model of virtual worlds for learning.
This model should be a useful reference framework for designing and implementing any
pedagogical program that calls for the use of virtual reality as an educational technology.
The central aim is to output a universal model. Universality chiefly has two meanings.
Firstly, the possibility of applying the proposed model to any learning program,
irrespective of its complexity and its initial independence of external factors (like the
subjects or didactic contents to be taught, the physical or cognitive characteristics of
students, and the underlying pedagogical methods or learning theories). Secondly,
metaphor is the core of our model, and one of the main advantages of metaphors is
their potential universality. Metaphors should be used in virtual environments as multi-
sensory representations that can be experienced and interpreted by all students, irrespective
of their language, thereby facilitating teamwork and interaction between participants.
Figure 1 shows the model proposed in this paper, identifying the essential components
of the architecture of any educational virtual reality system: modules, resources, processes
and participants. We will then describe each component, explaining its main features and
346 SANCHEZ ET AL
Real environment and source knowledge
Source knowledge represents all the concepts, didactic materials, skills and=or informationrelated to the subject to be learnt by the student. The real environment can be defined as
the setting in which teaching takes place. This setting must be taken into account when
selecting and studying the source knowledge. The educational environment can sometimes
play a fundamental role and determine the forms of learning. Examples of real environ-
ments are: a chemistry laboratory; an aircraft cabin, the airport and its facilities for a
trainee pilot; the street, the district and the town for town planners or architects; the
landscape, geology of the land and historical data for archaeologists; or the school
classroom for a student taking a geography, drawing or mathematics lesson.
Figure 1. Model of virtual reality systems for education.
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 347
One of the key questions before designing a virtual reality learning system is to properly
select the source knowledge. Obviously, it makes no sense to teach all educational contents
using this technology, either because they can be directly learnt using traditional
techniques or because other educational technologies are more effective and cheaper.
This paper defends that abstract knowledge is best suited for a virtual learning
environment. Abstract knowledge means mainly complex concepts, that is,
notions, theories, models, rules, processes and scientific laws that have the following
They do not have a clear correspondence in the real world. They are sometimes abstract,theoretical or generic entities, of which there are no references or specific examples in
the real world.
The knowledge concerned is invisible, having no profiles or physical observations andcannot, therefore, be experienced in practice or perceived by the human senses.
Generally, they are ideal, abstract objects and cognitive processes that are difficult tovisualize or imagine, concepts that are complicated to represent graphically or explain
The teaching and learning of this sort of knowledge raises enormous difficulties in
traditional education. Selecting abstract contents, like source knowledge, will help to better
identify what unique features virtual reality has as a pedagogical tool.
Another problem that arises is how to represent and teach abstract scientific concepts
in a virtual environment. In an artificial world, primarily based on physical or
sensory experience, scientific cognition will certainly call for new and original forms of
symbolization and representation.
Metaphor is the bridge between real and virtual environments. Virtual reality always
provides a metaphorical parallel to our real world. Our model takes advantage of the
fundamental role of metaphor to design, structure and build meaningful virtual reality
systems. The learning of source knowledge can be made easier by its metaphorical
embodiment in artificial worlds, where students can visualize, experience and interpret this
The key component of our model is metaphorical projection, which can be defined as a
mapping between the source knowledge of the real world and the virtual world. The main
goal of this process of metaphorical transfer is to build a system or network of metaphors
capable of defining the structure of the virtual world and organizing how to learn, navigate
and interact with this. So, metaphorical projection takes place on four different, albeit
interdependent planes: the structural plane, the learning plane, the navigation plane and the
The structural plane is composed of the metaphors that create the isomorphism between
the source knowledge and the virtual world. These metaphors establish the organizational
348 SANCHEZ ET AL
principles of the virtual scenario, determining its form and its structure. The aim is to base
and structure the source knowledge in a familiar domain or situation that is already
understood by students. The isomorphism or structural similarity will help them to
discover the central features of the source knowledge domain.
The learning plane metaphors serve to design the pedagogical approach and strategies:
the activities open to students in the virtual world, the role of student and teacher, the
representation or symbolization of the didactic contents in the virtual scenario, etc. The
most important components of the metaphorical projection are the structural and learning
planes, which largely determine the selection of the metaphors in the other two planes.
The navigation plane describes how users browse and move around in the virtual world
(walking, driving, flying, using a transportation tool, etc.). The metaphors of this plane
also define the scale (or reference framework in which users move), as well as the students
The metaphors of the interaction plane establish how pupils can interact with the virtual
scenario, how they manipulate the objects they come across and how they communicate
with other possible participants.
These four planes make up what should be a systematic and consistent set or network of
metaphors. The metaphorical projection is an indispensable tool for conceiving the
preliminary design of the two primary facets of the virtual world. Firstly, the design of
the architecture of the virtual scenario: the structural and learning planes define both the
configuration of the elements that constitute the structure of the virtual world, such as their
symbolic meaning (the embodiment or metaphorical representation of the contents of
learning in this physical space). Secondly, the design of how the student can inhabit or
use the environment: the navigation and interaction plane describe the different forms in
which the user can move around and interact with objects and other virtual world
participants (or how the user can interpret the meaning of the scenario).
In the next section, we present a case study that should give a better understanding of
what metaphorical projection is and how it is carried out.
Virtual reality system
A virtual reality system is a computer application capable of generating a 3D environment
in which the user is an active participant and interacts with the artificial world using a
range of multisensory interfaces1. According to Bricken (1991), Byrne (1996), Zeltzer
(1992) and Winn (1997), the main features offered by virtual worlds are as follows:
Presence: users immersed in a virtual reality system get the feeling that they are actuallythere in the real place. Students are carried off to an environment of pure information
that they can see, listen to and touch. In artificial worlds where presence is high, the
sensation of immersion is so strong that the interface disappears and users lose all
notion of interacting with a machine.
Navigation: students can be either immobile observers or travelers in the virtualenvironment, moving around in different ways, e.g., walking, flying, speaking (giving
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 349
verbal orders to move), using a vehicle, touching an object or pointing in any direction
within the environment, etc.
Scale: the scale of the virtual environments can be altered, changing the relative size ofusers in respect of the virtual world and allowing students to become the same size as
the biggest thing (a star) or the smallest object (an atom).
Viewpoint: this is the possibility of users changing perspective at will. For example,students could pass on their viewpoint to a given artificial world object or process, or
even to the viewpoint of another participant. Students can also be a floating viewpoint,
flying or moving at any speed in any direction.
User-environment interaction: users can make use of a range of ways of manipulatingand modifying virtual worlds. Students could move the virtual objects by hand, eye
movement or voice. Also, they have the ability to create and alter the environment.
Autonomy: a virtual environment is autonomous and dynamic when it is capable ofpursuing its own goals, executing actions and evolving, irrespective of user interactions.
Co-operative learning: distributed and networked environments provide for collectiveparticipation, offering several users the possibility of sharing virtual spaces at the same
time. Accordingly, the real-time interaction between different students leads to genuine
The learning module has the following functions:
Select and clearly determine the source knowledge, that is, the didactic contents that areto be taught. The possible influence of the real environment on learning also needs to be
Establish the student profile: age, level of background knowledge, whether or not theyhave any physical or cognitive impairment involving special educational needs, their
previous experience with virtual reality systems, as well as any other characteristic
possibly influencing learning.
Choose a given pedagogical program or learning theory, such as cognitivism, construc-tivism, the neo-Deweyist paradigm, the theories of Vygotsky or Piaget, etc., as a guide
for the learning process. These are the functions of any learning module to be applied in
a real environment. The following function, however, is specific to education in virtual
Implement a preliminary design of the virtual world by means of a metaphoricalprojection, creating a meaningful isomorphism between the knowledge of the real
environment and the virtual world for students. This preliminary design will serve to
establish how the didactic material should be presented and structured, as well as to
define the role of students and teachers in the virtual world.
350 SANCHEZ ET AL
Those in charge of the learning module are teachers and educators with elementary
knowledge of the rudiments of virtual reality technology, as well as the architecture of this
Designers, students, teachers
The term designers refers to a wide-ranging group of professionals responsible for
carrying out the final virtual reality system design and implementation:
Designers and analysts, responsible for designing high-level virtual world hardware=software. It is their mission, firstly, to assure that the different planes of the metaphorical
projection are consistent and systematic and, secondly, to check that it is possible to
implement the model as it has been designed.
Mechanical, electrical, optical and sound engineers to design and construct the multi-sensory interfaces and devices of the virtual reality system.
Graphic designers to create the 3D models of the virtual scenario and animations. Computer programmers to write the software to control the complex simulations.
Users are students and teachers, inhabiting and experiencing the virtual environment
through different interfaces or input=output devices, such as head-mounted displays,gloves, body suits, trackers, 3D sound systems, etc., which provide the sense of immersion
through visual, haptic, kinaesthetic and auditory feedback.
Both teachers and students could get to participate in design work (this possibility is
indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 1). Teachers with advanced knowledge of virtual
reality technology can make a direct contribution to the final system design and
implementation. If the final system implemented is a pre-developed world, then students
would have the possibility of configuring some features of the artificial world at will,
redesigning the virtual scenario, modifying its structure, creating or deleting certain
The Metaphorical Projection: A Brief Case Study
Although we do not have the space here to discuss a full design of a virtual reality system
here, the study presented below will serve as a preliminary approach and will be useful for
gaining a better understanding of the process of metaphorical transfer.
The source knowledge we have chosen is as an example of scientific categorization:
zoological taxonomies. Categorization is a very complex cognitive process, which,
however, is part of all of our everyday activities. Classification is a mental process that
human beings have performed since time immemorial and has led us to know how
to recognize food, dangerous animals, social group, building materials and hunting
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 351
A scientific example of categorization is taxonomic classification, where students are
required to bring other cognitive skills into play. A classification is not only an index of
data collection, it also has a heuristic function, on the basis of which to make predictions
and generalizations; that is, a good scientific classification must provide a basis for
explanation and inference. For all these reasons, the source knowledge we have selected
are the zoological hierarchies conceived by Carolus Linnaeus, which define species in
ascendent series of increasingly broader categories (e.g., species, genus, family, order,
class, division) up to a single group that encompasses all organisms (the kingdom). Each
category of the classification is defined by given unique, mainly physical, characteristics.
Below, we explain how the metaphorical transfer is carried out in each plane on the basis
of this example.
Metaphorical projection: structural plane
Table 1 shows the metaphorical projection that we conceived for the structural plane. A
correspondence is established in the table between the real and virtual environments at
different levels of representation: preliminary approach, general structure, taxonomic
relationship and taxonomic units.
According to the first level, the preliminary approach, the scientific taxonomy can be
represented by a 3D scenario, a scenario that is familiar or known to students: spatial
Table 1. Metaphorical projection: structural plane
REAL ENVIRONMENT Levels VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
Scientific taxonomy ! 3D scenarioa) Spatial: city, house, labyrinth . . .
b) Natural: tree, island, planet . . .
c) Geometric: cube, pyramid . . .
d) Others: book, box, net . . .
Taxonomic architecture ! Pyramidal networkHierarchy: ! Tree:a) Kingdom a) Starting root
b) Species b) Terminal leaf
Taxonomic units ! Rooms-cubesTaxonomic relationships
Relationships between ! Corridors or channels betweensuccessive units cubes
Relationships between ! Planes (colour, sound, shape . . .)same level units
Taxonomic units: features
Basic features ! Centrally positioned objectsSecondary features ! Peripherally positioned objectsOther additional information ! Available instruments
352 SANCHEZ ET AL
(house or building, block or district, town, labyrinth, etc.), natural (tree, mountain, island,
planet, constellation, planetary system, etc.), geometric (sphere, cube, pyramid, etc.), or
other (network, book, box, model, Meccano, etc.). The alternative that best symbolizes the
hierarchical structure of the classifications, the scenario that can create a clearer and more
intuitive structural isomorphism with the taxonomies, has to be selected from all these
The next level of representation, called general structure, establishes the metaphorical
transfers that explain the structural features of the scenario. Neither of the above-
mentioned scenarios is, in our opinion, capable of reflecting all the features of the
taxonomic domain on its own, which is why we preferred to build an ideal environment, a
mixture of several scenarios: a structure that can be a house, tree, pyramid and network all
at the same time.
The taxonomic architecture is represented as a pyramid-shaped 3D network of elements
(see Figure 2). The first or top taxonomic category (the kingdom) would be at the apex of
the pyramid and the lower categories (represented by species) at the bottom. The biological
hierarchy of living beings is viewed as an inverted tree, whose leaves are organized and
arranged at different depth levels: each level symbolizes a category or taxonomic rank
(division, class, order, etc.). The leaves of the tree are cubes: spaces or rooms that represent
the taxonomic units or taxa.
This structure also determines the taxonomic relationships. The relationships between
units of successive levels (termed parent-child or ascendent-descendant relationships) are
indicated in the virtual scenario by the corridors or channels between the cubes. The
relationships between units of the same level (sibling relationships) can be symbolized by
means of certain features, for example, the cubes belonging to one level could have a
distinctive color or a given size or a distinguishing mark concerning shape (cut edges), an
associated sound, etc.
The structural isomorphism between the source taxonomy and the virtual environment is
clear: the hierarchical classifications of living organisms correspond with a tree network of
cubes, a pyramidal building composed of different levels of rooms=cubes that can bebrowsed or explored by the user. So, the scale originally chosen for this virtual
environment is the human dimension.
Figure 2. Pyramid-shaped 3D network.
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 353
If the cubes are rooms that represent the taxonomic units or taxa, then the objects
located inside a room will symbolize the characteristics defining a taxon. The objects
located centrally or in a prominent place in the room represent the most elementary or
distinctive characteristics, whereas the objects situated at the edges symbolize the
Figure 3 shows the inside of a cube. The cubes are designed as rooms or spaces that can
be explored. Each room contains objects that could be handled by students. For example,
the 3D geometric figures (sphere, cube, cone) placed in the middle of the table are object-
metaphors that represent the main distinguishing features of the cube or taxonomic unit2.
The cylindrical column located in the far left-hand corner would indicate the ascendants
and=or descendants of the current cube. The cupboard situated on the near left-hand sidecould contain different instruments for examining and gathering more information about
the objects. The window on the right-hand wall is a screen on which 2D or 3D images
about other cube-related features or characteristics could be projected.
Metaphorical projection: learning plane
Table 2 shows the metaphorical projection in the learning plane. The projection was
realized on the basis of the pedagogical theory of constructivism3.
Constructivism is a learning theory describing the process of knowledge construction.
By definition, knowledge construction is an active process: students must become actively
engaged in their learning experience, rather than act as passive recipients of information.
This process can involve both cognitive and physical constructions of meaning, through
the development of mental models or schemas, as well as physical or virtual representa-
tions of knowledge (Osberg, 1997). One of the key issues of constructivism is the need to
develop a sense of depth about a concept. The constructivist environment is based on
inquiry, which leads to deep understanding of the concept (in our case it is the concept of
Figure 3. Inside of a cube.
354 SANCHEZ ET AL
As Table 2 shows, learning is viewed as a game played by the student, who should
explore the scenario and complete a series of tasks. The student will be obliged to learn
new knowledge or develop cognitive skills to achieve these tasks.
For example, the goal of the first task-learning of the taxonomic conceptual domain is to
distinguish the main key concepts of any classification: hierarchy, class, category, set,
element, membership, properties, inheritance, classificational criteria, etc. Students should
be able to discover the metaphorical meaning of the virtual world by exploring the
scenario, interpreting each of its elements and correctly relating these elements to the key
Table 2 is an overview that serves merely as a preliminary approach. The metaphorical
projection would have to be completed in order to fully design the learning plane, adding
all the information required. This involves exactly specifying the elements of the network
that make up the virtual scenario (that is, defining all the didactic contents that are going to
be taught), establishing each and every one of the possible routes (and their pedagogical
meaning), describing the role of the teacher and other students (are lone trips possible or
are only group expeditions permitted?), the instruments that can be used by students=-travelers to get their bearings within the virtual world or interpret its meaning (maps,
indexes or waymarkers, magnifying glasses, microscopes or other viewing instruments),
the exact description of the content of each cube=room and of the activities that can beperformed in its inside, etc.
We should not overlook the possibly huge influence of the pedagogical approach or
learning theory on the metaphorical projection. In this case, constructivism led us to
suggest travel or exploration as the key metaphor. However, if we had chosen a more
traditional pedagogical approach according to which the teacher gives the lesson and all
the students do is to listen, the metaphorical projection would be completely different. This
would call for another key metaphor, such as museum or tourist: the teachers would
play the leading role as guides (explaining the scenario to students=tourists) and the
Table 2. Metaphorical projection: learning plane
REAL ENVIRONMENT Levels VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
Learning ! GameLearning process ! Travel, exploration, search
Goals and tasks
Learn to distinguish and ! Explore the scenario takingdifferentiate the taxonomic different paths, interpreting its
conceptual domain metaphoric sense
Learn to class the taxonomic units ! Search for, find and take a givenpath in the network
Know how to describe a ! Recognize and interpret thetaxonomic unit inside of a room-cube
Students ! Travellers, explorersProfessors ! Collaborators, guides
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 355
students would merely listen and ask questions about what they do not understand.
Although the scenario would be structured similarly, the students and teachers would
perform completely different tasks and activities in this case.
Metaphorical projection: interaction and navigation planes
These two planes are secondary to the above. The full design of the structural and learning
planes necessarily guides and determines the forms of navigation and interaction with the
So, the selection of the best suited metaphors of interaction and navigation for our
example will depend on the final design of the virtual reality system and also on other
external factors (Bowman and Hodges, 1999), such as the characteristics of the tasks or
possible movements (e.g., degrees of freedom in handling objects), environmental
characteristics (e.g., density of objects in the scenario), user characteristics (e.g., arm
length) and system and interface characteristics (e.g., stereo vs. mono viewing).
The techniques of navigation have to provide the means of selecting the desired
direction and destination of the trip (students must be able to specify what direction
they want to move in and where they want to get to); selection of the speed and
acceleration of movement; and the means by which students decide to start, continue
and stop moving. We can advance some possibilities of navigation for our example:
realistic forms of moving around the scenario (e.g., walking), unrealistic or fantastic forms
(e.g., flying or moving around like a ghost capable of passing through all physical objects)
or a combination of both, depending on the distance, type of movements or routes to be
taken in any situation. There are two possible user viewpoints: egocentric, when users are
within the scenario, inside a room-cube (or when they move directly from one to another)
and exocentric, if users have the possibility of exiting, moving outside of the scenario and
looking at the cube network from a distance. Thus, the full hierarchy could be visualized as
if it were a 3D map (and thus either identify the paths already taken in the network or
select other routes).
The interaction with objects encompasses two basic tasks: the selection of the objects
and how they can be manipulated (hold, move, release, throw, etc.). With regard to the
interaction with objects for our scenario, the best thing would be direct manipulation.
However, there are other options: move objects with eyes, gestures, verbal orders or
menus. Where pedagogically necessary or relevant, some objects could be permitted to
have magical features or students could be given the possibility of directly altering the
Research in the field of human-computer interaction in recent years has focused on the
metaphors of navigation and interaction. The papers by Bowman and Hodges (1999),
Hand (1997), and Poupyrev and Ichikawa (1999) examine the latest interaction techniques
developed for manipulating objects, navigation and control of the application in 3D virtual
environments and propose methods of empirical evaluation of these techniques. Several
authors, e.g. Stanney (1995), defend the need to create new visual, auditory and haptic
metaphors for immersive virtual worlds4.
356 SANCHEZ ET AL
Extending the initial design: a new metaphorical projection
Our preliminary design of the virtual environment for learning taxonomies is a very
generic proposal and should be considered only as a starting point with many possible
extensions, changes and improvements.
The network of cubes described above is a naked skeleton and may be too abstract for
younger students. It should be more made more visually appealing, engaging and familiar
for children. For example, we could imagine and design other scenarios (a building, a tree,
a mountain, a mine, etc.), albeit retaining the underlying network structure. Different
sounds, colors and shapes could be added and used to distinguish ranks, categories or
Depending on the age and background knowledge of the students, we could add many
other elements or objects to better describe the classification and its characteristics: a 3D
window map (to locate and visualize the habitat of the species), a clock of evolution (to
measure the evolutionary changes in the species history), a microscope (to view invisible
features, like genetic properties) and so on.
Once students have learned the basics of classification, they are ready to act as
taxonomists: they could design, build and modify their own classifications. For example:
Re-build old classifications according to new criteria, such as shape, color, use ofanimals for human consumption (edible or not), habits or other structural information
(morphology, anatomy, reproductive and vegetative structure).
Group and classify species that no longer exist or animals that are extinct (dinosaurs,mammoths, dodos, etc.).
Classify fantastic animals from literature or mythology (centaur, unicorn, etc.) orimaginary animals invented by the students themselves.
For students to be able to build new classifications, the metaphorical structure of the
virtual environment must change slightly: from the initial scenario or spatial network to a
manipulable puzzle. Although the skeleton remains the same, the scale or viewpoint is
now more reduced: the cube network is converted into a 3D puzzle. Cubes are boxes,
whose content, position and order in the network can be modified directly by the user, as if
it were Meccano. Thus, students could re-build the structure and create new classifications.
A Cognitive Approach
This section addresses the foundation and justification of our ideas from the viewpoint of
cognitive science. Firstly, we will defend the epistemological value and educational worth
of metaphors. Secondly, we propose a new and original use of virtual reality as a
technology for visualizing cognition. Finally, we will describe how the experientialist
theories of cognition reinforce and justify our purpose of building metaphor-based
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 357
Metaphor as a cognitive tool
Contemporary studies on metaphor have dropped aesthetic or rhetorical questions to focus
on the reflection of their cognitive function. Almost all researchers now accept the idea of
metaphor playing a structural role in organizing our conceptual system.
According to Radman (1997), metaphors cannot be dealt with exclusively as verbal
instruments, since they are also instruments of thought. Metaphors are capable of
transmitting new cognitive contents and serve as a cognitive key that can be applied
universally across the boundaries of semantic areas, scientific disciplines and the domain
of life experience.
Todays researchers consider metaphors as cross-domain mappings (Holyoak and
Thagard, 1995; Lakoff, 1994). Metaphor can be used to see something through someone
elses eyes and, therefore, structure and understand one domain in terms of another.
According to Anderson (1983), all human learning is analogy based.
Metaphors are extremely valuable tools for improving learning: if we want to discover
something new, we first have to be able to imagine this. Metaphors also have a heuristic
value, as they are a means for our imagination to build clear ideas rather than vague
concepts. Analogies and metaphors have the power to alter our conceptual systems and
change the form in which students see the world.
Mayer (1993) explains how the metaphor that he refers to as instructive can make
descriptions and scientific concepts easier to understand for students. Instructive meta-
phors can be used to associate and relate one domain with another and, at the same time,
illustrate the problem-solving keys.
Virtual reality as visualization of cognition
Ever since it appeared on the scene, the aim of virtual reality technology has been to build
synthetic worlds capable of simulating, representing or recreating the different faces and
sides of reality. The virtual environments developed to date can be classed according to the
type of visualization they use:
a) Visualization of things, objects, activities, scenarios or persons in virtual environments
aiming at imitating reality; for example, buildings or architectural spaces for virtual
walkthroughs, flight simulators, systems of telepresence for long-distance face-to-face
b) Visualization of information: text and documents, data and information bases; for
example, virtual environments as information spaces, in which users can explore,
retrieve, organize and browse a collection of references to information sources, located
on the Web or elsewhere.
c) Visualization of knowledge is concerned with exploring information in such a way as to
gain an understanding and insight into the data. It can be used to understand and solve
scientific problems, look for regularities or connections, find hidden patterns in data
and create new models. Scientific visualization in virtual environments is the art of
358 SANCHEZ ET AL
making the unseen visible: torsion forces inside a body, heat conduction, flows,
plasmas, earthquake mechanisms, botanical structures or complex molecular models.
Our work aims to go one step further: to design and develop virtual worlds that provide
visualization of cognition. This term, visualization of cognition, means the externalization
of mental representations embodied in artificial environments.
We are interested in how to map mental contents into sensorial representations and
experiences in a virtual world. Mental representations are the internal system of informa-
tion used in cognitive activities (perception, language, reasoning, problem solving, etc.).
These representations cannot be observed directly. However, we believe that their
metaphorical embodiment in virtual environments could help users with cognitive
disabilities (learning, categorizing or language problems) to experience representations
through the senses and thus better understand them. Such environments could be fully
explored, allowing users to (re)build their own cognitive model and enhance learning by
means of the sensory interaction with the virtual model.
The embodied mind: a theory of the cognition as basis of our model
Throughout different publications (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980; Lakoff, 1987; Johnson,
1987; Lakoff and Johnson, 1999), Lakoff and Johnson have developed an experientialist
theory of cognition known as the embodied mind or the embodiment hypothesis. These
authors defend that the mind is inherently embodied and that abstract concepts are largely
metaphorical. We took this as the underlying theory for our proposals5.
The mind is embodied because both concepts and reason derive from and use the
sensorimotor system. The mind cannot be conceived separately from the body. Thought
requires a body in the sense that the real structure of our thoughts comes from the nature of
the body. Most of our concepts are based on common bodily experiences. Lakoff and
Johnson claim that categories, concepts and experience are inseparable. The categories that
we form are part of our experience. They are structures that divide aspects of our
experience into classes. For example, when we conceptualize categories, they are often
conceived as a spatial metaphor, as if they were containers with an inside, outside and
boundaries organized in complex hierarchies (note the similarity of this metaphor with the
structure used in our case study).
Furthermore, abstract concepts are mostly metaphorical: most concepts heavily rely on
basic metaphors based on bodily experience. Conceptual metaphors are mappings across
conceptual domains that shape our thought, experience and language. Our learning and our
understanding are structured in terms of concepts framed by our bodies.
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 359
Conclusions and Future Research Areas
The main contribution of this paper is to propose a model of virtual reality systems for
education. This model aims to be universal, as it offers a framework an independent
architecture of external factors that can be used in different scenarios.
The central component of the model is the metaphorical projection, which provides the
guidelines for the entire virtual world design. The goal of metaphorical design is to create a
semantic space6. All its elements are configured symbolically to make sense of an artificial
environment that students can visualize and experience with their senses. The virtual
environment thus becomes the physical representation of the knowledge to be taught.
Students must perceive, assimilate and make sense of the stimuli from this environment. It
is a question of interpreting or reading and not just sensing or experiencing the
environment. This is the characteristic, which, in our opinion, distinguishes virtual reality
as an educational technology: the possibility of creating symbolic spaces capable of
Lakoff and Johnsons experientialist theory defends that human beings rationality
cannot be dissociated from their bodily being. Our body and physical experience
determine how we learn and reason. Our rationality is embodied: thought appears to be
ineffable if it is not explained in bodily or physical terms. This theory justifies our interest
in building metaphorical virtual worlds, where knowledge and learning are represented in
an environment that must be interpreted through senses and bodily activity.
The model that we present here is only a preliminary approach and should be added to,
verified and corrected by future research. Below, we propose a brief research agenda with
some of the possible research areas:
Design and implement a full prototype, a virtual reality system capable of demonstratingthe pedagogical potential and possibilities of our model.
Investigate evaluation techniques. How can the metaphorical design of a virtual realitysystem be evaluated? How can we find out whether the chosen metaphors are best suited
for improving learning?
Check whether other developed systems fit the model we propose. This experiment,implementation of a design a posteriori, would serve to verify and measure the
universality or applicability of our model in implemented systems.
Develop a full methodology for building educational virtual reality systems based onmetaphorical design.
Investigate whether learning with immersive virtual reality systems is qualitativelydifferent from other forms of learning, like personal experiences (result of our everyday
interaction with the world) or formal schooling. Does virtual reality herald a new
educational paradigm, a new form of learning, or is it merely an educational aid for
Although, according to the current state of research, these questions cannot be answered
in full, the solution of these problems is a scientific challenge of enormous interest and
merits all our effort.
360 SANCHEZ ET AL
We would like to thank Rachel Elliot for her invaluable help in correcting the English and
to lgnacio Sanchez for preparing the figures.
1 Our model only considers fully immersive systems where students experience presence in virtual worlds
through multisensory devices. We do not discuss here non-immersive systems that run on a desktop computer
presenting 2D environments with which users can interact only by means of the mouse and the keyboard.
2 The object-metaphors can symbolise concepts, information or properties related directly to the underlying
scientific taxonomy. The object-metaphors provide visual, sound and haptic clues and can be linked or united
with other symbols, images, videos, animations, maps, sounds, texts (or voice) to rule any misinterpretation of
their meaning. In any case, the teacher can always offer guidance and additional information.
3 Constructivism has been the most commonly used learning theory in virtual environments for education. The
main pedagogical benefits offered by this theory in the design and use of virtual reality tools have been studied
and described by different researchers (Youngblut, 1998), (Osberg, 1997), (Winn, 1997).
4 Some new metaphors have been designed for user interfaces in virtual reality systems and several specific
techniques have been implemented in prototypes and commercial applications. For example, Fairchild, Hai et
al. (1993) proposed the Flying hand, Floating guide and Lean-based metaphors. Ware and Osborne (1990)
implemented Eyeball in hand, Environment in hand and Flying vehicle control.
5 Lund and Waterworth (1998) previously proposed the use of Lakoff and Johnsons theories as a basis for what
they call experiential interface design, which tries to reflect embodiment at the human-computer interface.
They illustrated their ideas with SchemaSpace and Personal Spaces (Waterworth, 1997), two virtual environ-
ments for visualizing information.
6 There are many examples of symbolic spaces in different cultures and times. We can give three significant
examples: (i) Australian aborigines view their country as an immense musical score: wherever they go, they can
sing immemorial songs that (re)create the landscape and grant territorial rights. The holy song is also a map and
a means of guidance and communication between far-off tribes (Chatwin, 1997); (ii) Yates (1984) described
what were known as palaces of memory, mnemonic systems created in Ancient Greece. If you want to
remember something, you imagine a space (a house with rooms, a theatre, etc.) that you use as an artificial
memory in which you order all the things you want to memorize. All you have to do to recall everything that
you memorized is to go for an imaginary walk through the scenario in the right order; and (iii) the religious
building was something more than a meeting place for believers in the Late Middle Ages in Europe. Gothic
churches and cathedrals also symbolized and were a material reproduction of heaven, a heavenly city. But what
is absolutely new is the emergence of a technology, virtual reality, which can be used to build fictitious virtual
worlds (with unique characteristics, even unparalleled in the real world), where it is possible to experience
sensorially a physical space and also a metaphorical space (a semantic space that embodies, represents a
Anderson, J.R. (1983). The Architecture of Cognition. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Bowman, D.A. and Hodges, L. F. (1999). Formalizing the design, evaluation, and application of interaction
techniques for immersive virtual environments. Journal of Visual Languages and Computing, 10, 3753.
Bricken, M. (1991). Virtual worlds: No interface to design. In Cyberspace: First steps, M. Benedikt (ed), MIT
Press, Cambridge, MA.
DESIGN OF VIRTUAL REALITY 361
Byrne, C.M. (1996). Water on tap: The Use of Virtual Reality as an Educational Tool. Ph. D. Dissertation,
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Chatwin, B. (1987). The Songlines. Jonathan Cape, London.
Fairchild, K.M. Hai, B. Loo, J. Hern, N. and Serra, L. (1993). The heaven and earth virtual reality: Designing
applic ations for novice users. In Proceedings of IEEE Virtual Reality Annual International Symposium
(VRAIS). Edited by the IEEE Service Center Piscataway, NJ, pp. 4753.
Hand, C. (1997). A survey of 3D interaction techniques. Computer Graphics Forum, 16(5), 269281.
Holyoak, K.J. and Thagard, P. (1995). Mental Leaps: Analogy in Creative Thought. The MIT Press, Cambridge,
Johnson, M. (1987). The Body in the Mind. Chicago University Press, Chicago.
Lakoff, G. (1987). Women, Fire and Dangerous Things. Chicago University Press, Chicago.
Lakoff, G. (1994). What is metaphor? In Advances in Connectionist and Neural Computation Theory: Analogy,
Metaphor, and Reminding, J.A. Barnden and K.J. Holyoak (eds), vol. 3, Ablex Publishing, Norwood, NJ pp.
Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago University Press, Chicago.
Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1999). Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western
Thought. Basic Books, New York.
Lund, A. and Waterworth, J.A. (1998). Experiential design: Reflecting embodiment at the interface. Computation
for Metaphors, Analogy and Agents: An International Workshop, University of Aizu, Japan.
Mayer, R.E. (1993). The instructive metaphor: Metaphoric aids to students understanding of science. In
Metaphor and Thought, A. Ortony (ed), 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Osberg, K.M. (1997). Constructivism in practice: The case for meaning-making in the virtual world. Ph.D.
Dissertation, Department of Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Poupyrev, I. and Ichikawa, T. (1999). Manipulating objects in virtual worlds: Categorization and empirical
evaluation of interaction techniques. Journal of Visual Languages and Computing, 10, 1935.
Radman, K. (1997). Metaphors: Figures of the Mind. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Stanney, K.M. (1995). Realizing the full potential of virtual reality: Human factors issues that could stand in the
way. In Proceedings of IEEE Virtual Reality Annual International Symposium. IEEE Computer Society Press,
Research Triangle Park, NC, pp. 2834.
Ware, C. and Osborne, S. (1990). Exploration and virtual camera control in virtual three dimensional
environments. Computer Graphics, 24(2), 175183.
Waterworth, J.A. (1997). Personal spaces: 3D spatial worlds for information exploration, organisation and
communication. In The Internet in 3D, R. Earnshaw and J. Vince (eds), Academic Press, New York.
Winn, W. (1997). The impact of three-dimensional immersive virtual environments on modern pedagogy. HITL
Technical Report R-9715. Human Interface Technology Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Yates, F.A. (1984). The Art of Memory. (First published in 1966). Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
Youngblut, C. (1998). Educational uses of virtual reality technology. IDA Document D-2128. Institute for Defense
Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia.
Zeltzer, D. (1992). Autonomy, interaction and presence. Presence, 1, 127132.
362 SANCHEZ ET AL