In focus: Sense of space 2 min

Given that many experiences seek to transport audiences to new places, it is useful to consider how we build up a sense of the space that we are in, even though this is not traditionally seen as constituting a separate sense in its own right. Instead, our perception of space involves the integration of vision, hearing, balance (vestibular system) and the sense of body positioning (proprioception), allowing us to navigate, judge distances and layouts, and maintain posture and balance. The sense of space can also have a powerful influence on mood and emotional responses. For example, the experience of being in a vast, open simulated space¹¹⁰ or large room¹¹¹ can inspire awe, compared to smaller areas.

Case study: The Matrix in Shared Reality Cosm, an experiential media company that opened its first flagship venues in Los Angeles and Dallas in 2023–24, uses giant 87-foot LED domes with spatial audio to deliver what it calls Shared Reality experiences, blending cinema, live events and immersive environments. Cosm's Shared Reality adaptation of*** The Matrix*** premiered June 2025 as a collaboration between Cosm,* Warner Bros. and Little Cinema*. The movie is shown in its original 16:9 frame, while the surrounding dome expands the world outward with, for example, office interiors continuing beyond the screen, bullets fly out of the frame, and during a helicopter rescue the skyline ripples and tilts in sync with the action. 1 min

Case study: Disney HoloTile floor 1 min

While VR can visually extend our sense of space, physical movement in those spaces is often restricted, relying on teleportation interactions or visual movements without corresponding body movements, which can be disorienting or cause motion discomfort⁶². Disney Imagineering provide an interesting way of extending physical space with the HoloTile^112,113, an omnidirectional modular treadmill floor. The floor enables endless walking due to the hundreds of independently rotating tile-like disks, which counteract the user's movement and redirect them towards the centre of the floor, regardless of their direction of walking. With this,HoloTiles can create an illusion of endless space and movement within a physical as well as virtual environment, which could have fascinating creative implications.