Architecture, biometrics, and virtual environments triangulation: a research review

Abstract

Developments in cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging technologies make it possible to interface directly with the human brain using sensors. Brain activity during the navigation of built space is influenced by user perception and cognition in interaction with visual stimuli. This paper has a fourfold aim: (a) to elucidate the concept of design evaluation for human well-being; (b) to investigate the principal available methodologies for non-invasive human neurological response monitoring; (c) to explain the visual simulator specification used for virtual environments; (d) to review systematically the existing literature that employed empirical methodology for the integration of an immersive visual virtual system with biometric data collection used in architecture design evaluation for pre- or post-occupancy. The paper concludes with considerations for implementing a comprehensive approach that uses biometric response as a method of design evaluation for future research.