Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Emotion Recognition Technologies in Virtual Reality Film Experiences: A Review
Pengcheng Du, Rina Binti Abd Shukor, Zhijing Chen
18 May 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 574-578
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10
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What is this article about?
Virtual reality (VR) film has emerged as a representative form of immersive media, providing audiences with highly engaging and emotionally rich viewing experiences. Compared with traditional screen-based films, VR films place viewers within a three-dimensional narrative environment and offer a stronger sense of presence, embodiment, and interactivity.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 18 May 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 574-578
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) film has emerged as a representative form of immersive media, providing audiences with highly engaging and emotionally rich viewing experiences. Compared with traditional screen-based films, VR films place viewers within a three-dimensional narrative environment and offer a stronger sense of presence, embodiment, and interactivity. As emotional responses play a critical role in audience engagement, narrative comprehension, and overall user experience, emotion recognition has become an increasingly important research direction in VR film studies. This paper reviews recent advances in emotion recognition technologies applied to virtual reality film experiences. It summarizes commonly used physiological and behavioral signals, including electroencephalography (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate variability (HRV), eye tracking, and facial expression analysis. In addition, representative machine learning and deep learning methods, such as support vector machines, convolutional neural networks, long short-term memory networks, and Transformer-based models, are discussed. The paper further examines key application scenarios, including audience experience evaluation, adaptive storytelling, therapeutic VR, and educational environments. However, existing studies still face challenges regarding multimodal data synchronization, individual variability, and the lack of standardized evaluation frameworks for VR film experiences. The review indicates that multimodal physiological signal analysis provides an effective and objective approach for understanding emotional responses in immersive narrative experiences. Despite challenges related to individual differences, data synchronization, motion artifacts, and privacy concerns, continuous advances in sensor technology and artificial intelligence are expanding the potential of emotion-aware VR filmmaking. This study provides a theoretical reference for future research and practical guidance for creators seeking to develop more responsive and emotionally engaging virtual reality films.
Keywords: Virtual Reality Film, Emotion Recognition, Physiological Signal Analysis, Affective Computing, Immersive Storytelling
Cite this article
Pengcheng Du, Rina Binti Abd Shukor, & Zhijing Chen (2026). Emotion Recognition Technologies in Virtual Reality Film Experiences: A Review. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(5), 574-578. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10
@article{Pengcheng2026,
title = {Emotion Recognition Technologies in Virtual Reality Film Experiences: A Review},
author = {Pengcheng Du and Rina Binti Abd Shukor and Zhijing Chen},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {5},
pages = {574-578},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Pengcheng Du, Rina Binti Abd Shukor, Zhijing Chen.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 5, pages 574-578, published by EP Journals Group on 18 May 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Pengcheng Du, Rina Binti Abd Shukor, & Zhijing Chen (2026). Emotion Recognition Technologies in Virtual Reality Film Experiences: A Review. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(5), 574-578. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-10
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