Niels Henze

Papers

Total Citations

273

H-Index

About

Niels Henze is a leading researcher in human-computer interaction, with a particular focus on virtual reality (VR), user experience, and the psychological effects of immersive technologies. His work explores how virtual environments influence perception and behavior, notably through the rendering of users' bodies. In his highly cited 2017 paper, ""These are not my hands!"" (207 citations), Henze demonstrated that accurately rendering a user's hands in VR significantly enhances the sense of presence and embodiment, a foundational insight for designing more convincing virtual interactions. He has also investigated the uncanny valley effect in virtual animals, as seen in his 2017 study (66 citations), which quantitatively and qualitatively examined how realism in non-human virtual characters affects user comfort and engagement. Henze's contributions bridge technical innovation and psychological theory, offering practical guidelines for VR developers. His work has been widely recognized for advancing the understanding of how virtual representations impact human experience, making him a key figure in shaping the future of immersive interfaces.