Is ASMR better in VR, 360 degree video?

Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, is a phenomenon that unless you can experience it yourself, seems completely bizarre. The idea that a voice or a sound can create a feeling of euphoria or relaxation, is strange enough, but when you factor in the role plays and banal, one-sided conversations that appear on Youtube, it's even harder to comprehend. Perhaps those that don't feel it though just need to be more immersed, like in a virtual world.

ASMRrequests is one of the more popular channels on Youtube devoted to providing a relaxing listen-along experience, as well as a ‘tingle' inducing one. The channel was founded by and stars Ally Maque, who also has a keen interest in future technologies, like virtual reality, so over the past year she's been experimenting with ways to make that work with ASMR.

Although she's taken a stab at it before with other collaborators, her latest combines a CG, 360 degree futuristic environment and a calming, ASMR video monitor that should allow viewers to feel more in touch with their tingly selves. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZu1e2TVGjs']

The question is, what do you think of this third dimensional interpretation of the ASMR experience?

KitGuru Says: ASMR is something I can use for sleep, or to help me concentrate while working. Background noise is important when you work by yourself all day, but it can easily be distracting. These sorts of role plays work well for that, though I feel like in having the ASMR itself come from a 2D monitor within the virtual world, the immersive effect is not as strong as it could be. 

Become a Patron!