On the ecological/representational structure of virtual environments

This paper introduces an alternative view of virtual environments based on an analysis of two opposing views: the Traditional View and the Ecological View. The Traditional View argues for a representational view of perception and action susceptible of being mapped onto virtual settings. The Ecological View, which is inspired by Gibson's ecological approach to perception, considers that perception and action are inseparable, embodied processes that do not imply mental representations. The alternative view put forward here claims for an articulation of the opposing views, namely the Ecological/Representational view of virtual environments, providing the notion and levels of representation implied in perceptual and agentic processes is functionally defined