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About

Menno van Zaanen’s research explores the intersection of virtual reality, human-computer interaction, and affective computing, with a particular focus on how virtual animal characters influence human emotions. His key contributions center on understanding empathy, immersion, and the uncanny valley effect in virtual environments, especially when users embody or interact with robotic and non-robotic animals. In his most-cited work (40 citations), he demonstrates that the visual appearance of game characters—comparing virtual non-robotic versus robotic animals—significantly impacts users’ empathic responses and sense of immersion. Van Zaanen’s broader research agenda includes developing immersive virtual experiences that foster emotional connections with wildlife, as seen in his work on wild animal embodiment (10 citations). He has also systematically investigated the uncanny valley phenomenon for virtual animals (8 citations), revealing how design choices affect user perception and acceptance. His studies on robot animals as virtual instructors (2 citations) and empathy enhancement through character manipulation (2 citations) further highlight his commitment to applying these insights to serious games, education, and wildlife conservation. Van Zaanen’s work provides a foundational framework for designing more emotionally resonant and effective virtual characters.