Interpersonal Interaction in Virtual Landscapes: The Effect of Color

This research examines how color affects interpersonal interaction in virtual landscapes. Proxemics has examined interpersonal distance in virtual landscapes and its regulation as a part of environmental stability, spatial cues, and perceptual clarity. Basic perceptual concepts, such as color and its effects on interpersonal interaction when physical cues are altered, need to be examined. Twenty-five participants participated in a controlled virtual-landscape experiment conducted in a natural landscape rendered under two visual conditions: colored and monochrome. Spatial data and questionnaires were used to measure distance, stability, comfort, and willingness to engage. While average interpersonal distance remained unchanged, movements in the monochrome visual landscapes were more variable and less controlled. Color-enhanced perceptual clarity enables steadier spatial behavior. These results highlight that color functions as a perceptual anchor in virtual landscapes, stabilizing interpersonal interaction without altering comfort levels. The research contributes to the understanding of proxemic behavior by describing how users adjust interpersonal distance during interaction in digital landscapes. It also provides methodology for designing perceptually balanced virtual landscapes.