Virtual reality (VR) is a multidisciplinary area of research aimed at interactive
human-computer-mediated simulations of artificial environments. An important aspect of VR-based
systems is the stimulation of the human senses - usually sight sound and touch - in such a
way that a user feels a sense of presence in the virtual environment. Sometimes it is important
to combine real and virtual objects in the same real or virtual environment. This approach is
often referred to as augmented reality (AR) when virtual objects are integrated into a real
environment. Typical VR applications include simulation training scientific visualization
and entertainment whereas typical AR applications include computer-aided manufacturing or
maintenance and computer-aided surgery or medicine. This book comprises a collection of
research and position papers presented at Dagstuhl Seminar 13241 on Virtual Realities held at
Schloss Dagstuhl Germany in June 2013. The 13 papers in this volume were carefully reviewed
and selected from 18 submissions. They are organized in topical sections on: VR environments
interactions and user experience virtual humans and tele-existence.
