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Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space

Michael Saker Orcid Logo, Leighton Evans Orcid Logo

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies

Swansea University Author: Leighton Evans Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/13548565261440960

Abstract

This paper examines the domestication of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies within the home. It argues that recent advances have reshaped both the spatial and affective character of digital experience. Where earlier iterations of VR sought to transcend physical space, newer VR/...

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Published in: Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
ISSN: 1354-8565 1748-7382
Published: SAGE Publications 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71709
first_indexed 2026-04-02T09:40:27Z
last_indexed 2026-04-03T06:01:30Z
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recordtype SURis
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spelling 2026-04-02T10:40:25.6977403 v2 71709 2026-04-02 Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79 0000-0002-6875-6301 Leighton Evans Leighton Evans true false 2026-04-02 LLML This paper examines the domestication of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies within the home. It argues that recent advances have reshaped both the spatial and affective character of digital experience. Where earlier iterations of VR sought to transcend physical space, newer VR/MR headsets, such as the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, integrate digital objects into remediated images of the domestic environment. Drawing on theories of placemaking, affective atmospheres, and technological domestication, we explore how MR facilitates hybridised experiences that blend physical and imagined space. We argue that this shift enables more effective domestication by aligning with everyday mobilities and routines. At the same time, we also suggest that this transformation is privileging certain users as well as datafying the home for commercial ends. To account for this shift, we theorise that the virtual space of VR is being gentrified, and that this process is not just reconfiguring how the domestic sphere is experienced but might also displace certain users because of the material properties associated with their homes. We conclude this article by offering a conceptual model that formalises the gentrification of virtual space. Journal Article Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies SAGE Publications 1354-8565 1748-7382 31 3 2026 2026-03-31 10.1177/13548565261440960 https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565261440960 COLLEGE NANME Literature, Media and Language COLLEGE CODE LLML Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee 2026-04-02T10:40:25.6977403 2026-04-02T10:29:30.3082235 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR Michael Saker 0000-0002-7414-2840 1 Leighton Evans 0000-0002-6875-6301 2
title Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
spellingShingle Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
Leighton Evans
title_short Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
title_full Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
title_fullStr Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
title_full_unstemmed Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
title_sort Beyond virtual reality: The domestication and gentrification of virtual space
author_id_str_mv cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79
author_id_fullname_str_mv cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79_***_Leighton Evans
author Leighton Evans
author2 Michael Saker
Leighton Evans
format Journal article
container_title Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1354-8565
1748-7382
doi_str_mv 10.1177/13548565261440960
publisher SAGE Publications
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR
url https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565261440960
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description This paper examines the domestication of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies within the home. It argues that recent advances have reshaped both the spatial and affective character of digital experience. Where earlier iterations of VR sought to transcend physical space, newer VR/MR headsets, such as the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, integrate digital objects into remediated images of the domestic environment. Drawing on theories of placemaking, affective atmospheres, and technological domestication, we explore how MR facilitates hybridised experiences that blend physical and imagined space. We argue that this shift enables more effective domestication by aligning with everyday mobilities and routines. At the same time, we also suggest that this transformation is privileging certain users as well as datafying the home for commercial ends. To account for this shift, we theorise that the virtual space of VR is being gentrified, and that this process is not just reconfiguring how the domestic sphere is experienced but might also displace certain users because of the material properties associated with their homes. We conclude this article by offering a conceptual model that formalises the gentrification of virtual space.
published_date 2026-03-31T06:24:17Z
_version_ 1861697464946393088
score 11.1007595

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