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About

About

Miguel Melo is Assistant Researcher of MASSIVE Virtual Reality Laboratory at INESC TEC in Portugal. He has a PhD from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, specializing in Computer Graphics. He is also a member of the executive committee of Eurographics. He counts with more than 25 publications in international peer-reviewed journals and he has been participating in several international research projects in the field of Multisensory Virtual Reality applied to different areas such as specialized training or tourism.

Interest
Topics
Details

Details

  • Name

    Miguel Correia Melo
  • Role

    Senior Researcher
  • Since

    01st November 2010
009
Publications

2024

Studying the Influence of Multisensory Stimuli on a Firefighting Training Virtual Environment

Authors
Narciso, D; Melo, M; Rodrigues, S; Cunha, JP; Vasconcelos-Raposo, J; Bessa, M;

Publication
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Abstract
How we perceive and experience the world around us is inherently multisensory. Most of the Virtual Reality (VR) literature is based on the senses of sight and hearing. However, there is a lot of potential for integrating additional stimuli into Virtual Environments (VEs), especially in a training context. Identifying the relevant stimuli for obtaining a virtual experience that is perceptually equivalent to a real experience will lead users to behave the same across environments, which adds substantial value for several training areas, such as firefighters. In this article, we present an experiment aiming to assess the impact of different sensory stimuli on stress, fatigue, cybersickness, Presence and knowledge transfer of users during a firefighter training VE. The results suggested that the stimulus that significantly impacted the user's response was wearing a firefighter's uniform and combining all sensory stimuli under study: heat, weight, uniform, and mask. The results also showed that the VE did not induce cybersickness and that it was successful in the task of transferring knowledge.

2024

Virtual Reality in Tourism Promotion: A Research Agenda Based on A Bibliometric Approach

Authors
Sousa, N; Alén, E; Losada, N; Melo, M;

Publication
JOURNAL OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM

Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) has the capacity to increase tourists' responses, compared with other marketing tools. In tourism, it can play a decisive role in its promotion, since it can generate impactful information that will increase the visit intention. However, there are few reviews that focus on VR as a promotional tool in tourism. To overcome this limitation, this work provides a bibliometric analysis of papers from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The analysis allows us to conclude that although its potential is recognized, the use of VR is infrequent in tourism. We also identified three main avenues for future research: presence and devices, promotional strategies, and segments to explore.

2024

The impact of virtual reality and biological sex on the promotion of tourist destinations: effects on destination image, place attachment, and behavioural intention

Authors
Melo, M; Gonçalves, G; Jorge, F; Losada, N; Barbosa, L; Teixeira, MS; Bessa, M;

Publication
JOURNAL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
Purpose - This paper aims to generate knowledge of the impact of different virtual reality (VR) set-ups in tourism promotion regarding destination image, place attachment and behavioural intention.Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a comparative study of the impact of different visualisation technologies (video, immersive VR and multisensory immersive VR) to promote tourism destinations. The study's dependent variables are destination image, place attachment and behaviour intention.Findings - Results show that VR content impacts these variables. Multisensory immersive VR is the preferred content type for destination promotion. It is also evidenced that female participants scored each variable higher than male participants. Males reported higher scores on the video set-up for destination image and place attachment. Behavioural intention reported higher values in the video when compared to immersive VR in both sexes.Practical implications - This paper concludes that there is a preference towards multisensory set-ups, which suggests that incorporating audiovisual and sensory elements can significantly enhance the effectiveness of VR experiences in attracting and engaging potential tourists.Originality/value - The paper contributes to the scarce body of knowledge regarding the impact of different VR factors on tourism promotion, including the multisensory VR component.

2024

Assessing the perceptual equivalence of a firefighting training exercise across virtual and real environments

Authors
Narciso, D; Melo, M; Rodrigues, S; Dias, D; Cunha, J; Vasconcelos Raposo, J; Bessa, M;

Publication
VIRTUAL REALITY

Abstract
The advantages of Virtual Reality (VR) over traditional training, together with the development of VR technology, have contributed to an increase in the body of literature on training professionals with VR. However, there is a gap in the literature concerning the comparison of training in a Virtual Environment (VE) with the same training in a Real Environment (RE), which would contribute to a better understanding of the capabilities of VR in training. This paper presents a study with firefighters (N = 12) where the effect of a firefighter training exercise in a VE was evaluated and compared to that of the same exercise in a RE. The effect of environments was evaluated using psychophysiological measures by evaluating the perception of stress and fatigue, transfer of knowledge, sense of presence, cybersickness, and the actual stress measured through participants' Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The results showed a similar perception of stress and fatigue between the two environments; a positive, although not significant, effect of the VE on the transfer of knowledge; the display of moderately high presence values in the VE; the ability of the VE not to cause symptoms of cybersickness; and finally, obtaining signs of stress in participants' HRV in the RE and, to a lesser extent, signs of stress in the VE. Although the effect of the VE was shown to be non-comparable to that of the RE, the authors consider the results encouraging and discuss some key factors that should be addressed in the future to improve the results of the training VE.

2024

Influencing wine tourists' decision-making with VR: The impact of immersive experiences on their behavioural intentions

Authors
Sousa, N; Alén, E; Losada, N; Melo, M;

Publication
TOURISM MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES

Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) has proven to be an important contribution to tourists' decision-making regarding a destination. This fact can be determinant, especially when tourists face some social limitation or restriction that conditions their participation in tourism activities. Therefore, we aim to understand whether the possibility of experiencing immersive wine tourism activities can encourage future visits, as well as the recommendation of the VR experience and the destination itself. To achieve our goal, we offered 405 participants an experimental VR experience with digital content about a wine tourism activity. The results showed that participants feel that the VR experience influences their behavioural intention towards the wine tourism destination. The satisfaction felt from the experience leads to a significant effect on the intention to visit and to recommend the destination and the VR activity. These findings suggest to wine tourism destination managers that VR can play an essential role in tourism management.

Supervised
thesis

2022

RV imersiva para o setor imobiliário. Desenvolvimento de aplicação e avaliação do impacto de diferentes níveis de interação e fidelidade visual

Author
Samuel Filipe Silveira Martins

Institution
INESCTEC

2022

Digital Twin em ambientes de realidade virtual imersivos. Caso de estudo projeto Smartcut

Author
Ricardo José Borges Rodrigues

Institution
INESCTEC

2022

Creating Immersive Authentic Experiences for Foreign Language Learning

Author
Bruno Miguel Eira Peixoto

Institution
UTAD

2022

USER EXPERIENCE IN VIDEO GAMES: IDENTIFICATION OF DETERMINING CHARACTERISTICS FOR ITS SUCCESS

Author
Madalena Barros

Institution
UTAD

2022

Criação de experências virtuais imersivas de forma expedita: Caso de estudo projeto Smartcut

Author
Rui Pedro Carvalho Machado

Institution
INESCTEC