A study put forth by Stanford researchers pulls back the veil on decades of virtual reality use to reveal the top pros and cons of VR technology. Uniquely, the team reviewed over 30 years of VR experimentation to identify where the technology shines and where it’s best to remain using a traditional screen. Here’s what you need to know.
Early History of VR and Terminology
The concept of creating an immersive computer world where people could interact and complete tasks has been around since the 1960s. However, the term virtual reality didn’t emerge until the 1980s. Since then, virtual reality has experienced massive adoption, evolving from expensive military training projects to personal gaming headsets and beyond.
Today, VR is a valuable tool that can help to better humanity. It’s already seen extensive use in the medical field, where it has been found to help those suffering from neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease remember and connect with loved ones.
There are also psychologists who have found the technology to be useful in exposure therapy. This style of treatment is meant to help those with phobias conquer their fear. For example, you could have someone with a fear of heights walk across a tightrope, or someone with a fear of swimming go scuba diving.
Contextual Limits of VR
The visceral nature of VR and the improved systems running it mean that the programs have become more immersive than ever. As such, they continue to see more integration. However, researchers noted that not every scenario warrants VR usage, and in fact, the tech is best utilized sparingly and for specific tasks.
Common VR-Related Issues
Some of the issues with today’s VR systems are that they can be overly intense for the users. There are lots of reports of people experiencing simulator sickness, which is like motion sickness for headset VR users.
The fact that VR blocks out the real world is another major concern that could lead to people becoming addicted to the virtual realm, forgoing their real lives. However, this risk is still a long way away, as discomfort is one of the main side effects of overusing VR. The headsets are still bulky devices that become annoying after only an hour of usage.
Overview of the Stanford/Nature Review
Rather than conduct another study into VR, the team of Stanford researchers decided to review other studies under a new light. The report1 Five canonical findings from 30 years of psychological experimentation in virtual reality, published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, provides an in-depth review of canonical psychological findings with the goal of helping promote future usage within healthy parameters.
When VR Excels: DICE Experiences
The study reveals that there are some scenarios in which VR is the best option. The engineers state that DICE (dangerous, impossible, counterproductive, or expensive) tasks are ideal. These tasks can include traveling to exotic locations or imaginary lands, or they can incorporate rare or impossible items or scenarios, such as working on a spacecraft.
When Presence & Location Are Crucial
The researchers noted that you should only use VR tech to do tasks where being on site is crucial to the experience. For example, traveling to exotic or imaginary locations. As such, using VR to see the bottom of the ocean or land on the surface of the sun is a good way to combine excitement and learning.
Source – Pixabay
Procedural Training: VR’s Sweet Spot
Another key takeaway of the reports is that VR systems are best used to conduct procedural tasks, like learning to pilot an aircraft or conduct a surgery. Tasks where there are clear steps that must be followed maximize the immersive effects of VR and help to reinforce the learning.
For example, learning to repair an engine, taking a martial art, working out, or even building a city are all tasks where VR will allow you to gain much during the learning process. You will benefit from being on-site, blocking out reality, and conducting tasks that require a hands-on approach.
Body Tracking & Avatar Effects
Virtual reality is a unique medium because it tracks your body movement. This body tracking allows you to fully immerse yourself in the VR world. However, it does come with some caveats. For one, these systems track every detail of your disposition, meaning that they can identify you in the future, despite an avatar change. There’s no anonymity in VR.
How Avatars Change Behavior
Another key aspect of the study details how your avatar affects our psychology. You may think that choosing an avatar isn’t a big deal when venturing into a VR world, however, the physiological effects of your selection are now better understood.
This study shows that your avatar will affect everything from the way you behave to how people interact with you. Interestingly, the report found that physiological effects follow you, even after you exit the VR world. As such, the engineers recommend that you always pick an avatar that matches your actual or ideal self.
Distance Estimation & Precision Limitations
VR is great for large area tasks, but when it comes to completing finite details, it lacks. The VR experience is still limited in its ability to project down to the centimeter movement accuracy. As such, you can use this technology to learn how to tear down or repair a motor, but the feeling of placing the screw into its location and tightening it could still be a few years away.
VR Usage: When to Avoid
There were some don’ts that the researchers listed in their report. For one, they found that VR usage is best in minutes and not hours. Over-extended use can cause discomfort, headaches, simulator sickness, and major procrastination in the real world.
Skip VR for Routine Meetings
Another interesting finding is that you should avoid using VR for mundane and basic tasks. Tech giants like META are encouraging users to don a headset and put in an 8-hour workday. However, this isn’t the reality. This study shows that if you are going to be sitting still and only observing, you’re better off using a traditional screen.
Avoid VR for Simple, Real-World Tasks
The same goes for basic tasks. You shouldn’t use VR to learn how to catch a baseball or fly a kite. These basic tasks can be done in real life and don’t require any special locations. Instead, up the ante, like using VR to play in the World Series. This approach is a more exciting and engaging use of the tech.
Key Benefits from the Review
The Pros and Cons of VR study brings many interesting facts to light. For one, it helps psychologists and future VR developers to better understand the best ways to integrate this technology in the future. It examines the key social, cognitive, and perceptual limitations and benefits of the tech.
Applying These Findings in Practice
There are many applications for this data. The engineers envision this study helping to guide the VR community. It should provide a roadmap to create more useful and effective VR systems in the future. Additionally, this data has relevance for VR consumers, who can use the info to leverage the tech safely.
Study Authors & Research Context
The Pros and Cons of the VR study were led by engineers from Stanford University in collaboration with Michigan State University team members. The report specifically lists Jeremy N. Bailenson, Cyan DeVeaux, Eugy Han, David M. Markowitz, Monique Santoso, and Portia Wang as the key contributors.
Investing in the VR Sector
The VR market is a fast-paced economy that sees innovation monthly. There are several firms that remain at the top of this highly competitive industry. These companies continue to push innovation, seeking to make VR available to the masses for daily use. Here’s one company that’s leading this charge.
Glimpse Group Inc.
New York-based Glimpse Group Inc. (VRAR -1.27%) entered the market in 2016 seeking to cultivate a vibrant and innovative VR economy. The company’s founders, Lyron Bentovim and Maydan Rothblum, quickly began acquiring firms that fit their needs, and today, Glimpse Group includes multiple subsidiary companies.
The Glimpse Group, Inc. (VRAR -1.27%)
Notably, this structure has allowed the Glimpse Group to have different operations specializing in different industry verticals, adding ot its value and overall market penetration. Today, it operates as a highly respected AR and VR platform with strategic partnerships that span the tech market.
Latest Glimpse Group (VRAR) Stock News and Developments
Pros and Cons of VR Study
When you examine the work put forth on the pros and cons of VR study, it’s easy to see that the engineers wanted to contribute something meaningful and new to the discussion. They realized early on that VR systems had been tested, but their psychological effects were still highly misunderstood. This new report adds much-needed clarity and guidance to the market, as it’s set to experience record growth in the coming years.
Learn about other cool VR projects here.
Studies Referenced:
1. Bailenson, J.N., DeVeaux, C., Han, E. et al. Five canonical findings from 30 years of psychological experimentation in virtual reality. Nat Hum Behav (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02216-3