From Adaptation to Intelligence: A Systematic Review of Data, Strategies, and Impact in Personalized VR

Abstract

As virtual reality (VR) systems advance, they are increasingly expected to adapt intelligently to individual users' states, abilities, and preferences. While prior research has examined user-state sensing and adaptive interaction design in VR, existing reviews typically address these aspects in isolation. In this paper, we examine the growing body of research on personalization in VR, with a particular focus on how user data collected during immersion is used to drive adaptive strategies that tailor the experience and enhance engagement, performance, or other specific goals. We synthesize findings from studies that employ adaptive techniques across diverse application domains and summarize a five-stage conceptual framework that unifies adaptive mechanisms across domains. Our analysis reveals emerging trends, including the integration of multimodal sensors, the transition from purely reactive to hybrid adaptation systems, and the adoption of artificial intelligence approaches. Finally, we identify key challenges related to data, modeling, and evaluation, and outline future research directions toward more effective and user-centered VR systems.