“The impact of using virtual reality technologies on the interaction of users of digital journalism applications.” A field study on a sample of users of Arab news applications (Al Jazeera - Al Arabiya)”

The primary objective of this research is to study the impact of using virtual reality technologies on the interaction of users with digital journalism applications through a field study on a sample of users of Arabic news applications. The objectives are further divided into evaluating users' experience with virtual reality technologies in terms of ease, enjoyment, and added value; comparing interaction levels with news using virtual reality technologies versus traditional methods; studying the effect of these technologies on understanding and comprehending news content; identifying the challenges users face; and providing suggestions for improving the use of these technologies.

The research relied on a media survey methodology using a questionnaire to collect data from (295) out of (400) individuals who use digital newspaper applications; the sample included users of Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. The results showed that virtual reality technologies contribute to improving the understanding of complex news and enhancing interaction with news in innovative ways, but they face challenges such as difficulty in managing narrative design and the high cost of necessary hardware. Despite these challenges, their benefits include providing an interactive and personalized experience for users.

The research recommends several measures to improve the use of virtual reality technologies in digital journalism, including improving the quality of graphics and frames, investing in the development of compatible and fast software, creating applications that integrate virtual reality into daily use, offering affordable options, conducting regular user experience tests.