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Exploring 4E+ Cognition and Spiritual Wisdom in eXtended Reality Interaction and Experience Design

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Thesis(42.82 MB)

Date

2025

Authors

Taheri, Ali

Supervisor

Aguayo, Claudio
Frielick, Stanley

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Doctor of Philosophy

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

Note: This is practice-oriented research and the practice is presented in the PhD website: Fables of Naranj The eXtended Reality (XR) medium, as one of the pivotal components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), demonstrates the 4IR’s capability to blur the lines between the physical, digital, and biological realms. In the rapidly evolving domain of XR, the medium itself is poised to become a transformative influence on user cognition and emotional engagement. As the adoption of interactive and immersive media continues expanding, the design of interaction and the crafting of immersive experiences play a critical role in shaping the user experience of this emerging medium. This, in turn, significantly influences technology, academic research, culture, and society. However, current design paradigms within this technological landscape remain predominantly reductionist and mechanistic, prioritising efficiency and control at the expense of holistic human and cultural considerations. To fully harness the transformative potential of XR as an emerging medium, there is a need to move beyond these established approaches. Here, embracing design methodologies that are more attuned to the complexities of human experience and cognition is crucial. This research explores the connection between ancient philosophical traditions and modern technological practices, applying these insights to XR interaction and experience design. By integrating principles of 4E+ cognition (embedded, extended, embodied, and enacted cognition, along with the affective dimension), Neoplatonism, Perennial wisdom, and Ishraq (Illuminationism), the study aims to create experiences that engage users on cognitive, affective, and spiritual levels. The aim of this research is to develop a design approach that leverages recent XR technologies while incorporating cultural and philosophical considerations. Furthermore, it examines the practical applications and potential contributions of the integrated 4E+ cognition approach in designing experiences and human-computer interactions (HCI) for XR. This is achieved by incorporating artistic inquiry and practice-oriented research, proposing a set of design principles extracted from best practices tailored for this emerging field of HCI. The research methodology in this study is holistic, integrating heuristic and Illuminationist (Ishraqi) approaches to develop an understanding of the potentials of XR as an experienced-based interactive immersive medium. This illuminationist heuristic methodology, coupled with the art of steering (cybernetics), guides this exploration, allowing for adjustments and refinements as insights emerge. The study adopts a practice-oriented methodology, embedded in real-world projects developed at Auckland University of Technology’s AppLab. These projects serve as a testing ground where theoretical insights are transformed into practical artefacts, which in turn push the theoretical envelope further. The significance of this research extends beyond the technicalities of XR design to encompass a rethinking of how we approach technology, culture, and user experience and cognition in the digital age. Integrating philosophical and spiritual elements ensures that the XR environments developed are not only technologically advanced but also intellectually and spiritually enriching. One outcome of this study was the promotion of a deeper connection between the inner self and the physical environment in HCI design. It challenges the prevailing trend in contemporary HCI that often leads to detachment from the body, reality, and the essence of human existence. The study resulted in a significant shift in the author's ontological perspective, transitioning from a conventional epistemological paradigm and the Cartesian dualistic approach towards adopting a 4E+ cognitive framework. This innovative framework holds the potential for synthesising oriental and occidental philosophical viewpoints, providing a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive processes in XR. Findings indicate that the integration of 4E+ cognition and ancient wisdom into HCI and experience design fosters deeper cognitive and spiritual connections. This paradigm shift in embracing a 4E+ cognitive framework offers a culturally informed structure for XR design. It has significant implications for the design and application of emerging technologies, art, education, and the preservation of cultural heritage. In the broader context of creative technology, this research contributes to understanding how emerging immersive technologies can be harnessed to enrich human experience. It highlights the importance of integrating philosophical and cultural perspectives into technological development, ensuring that innovation is guided by a deep respect for human cognition and the insights of spiritual wisdom. Designers can adopt this perspective in their problem-solving and decision-making processes during the creation of complex projects. The thesis contributes to the field of creative technology by providing a set of principles to enhance the approach to problem-solving and improve the design of emerging interactive media. The philosophical and theoretical knowledge derived from this research also holds the potential to impact the practices of art and art research, as well as real-world projects in the creative industry. Moreover, an essential practical outcome of the research is the utilisation of interactive media platforms in the gamification of cultural and natural heritage. The objective was to create an interactive experience that fosters engagement among younger generations with the ideas and viewpoints inherent in a particular cultural or philosophical perspective. These findings, coupled with a change in the epistemological perspective on human experience, from the Cartesian duality to a 4E+ and transcendent naturalism view, hold significant transformative potential. This shift could drive positive change across creative fields.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20888

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Doctoral Theses