Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, declared in March of 2020, there have been many lifestyle changes which have likely influenced tobacco smoking behavior. Such lifestyle changes include lockdowns, stay at home orders, reduction in social cues related to smoking, increased stress, and boredom among other things. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey which looked into these behaviors, primarily perceived risk to COVID-19, and determined if there is an association between perceived risk and education level/race. Education level is a proxy for income and material resources, therefore making it more likely that people with lower levels of education have fewer resources and higher perceived risk to negative effects of COVID-19. Additionally, people of color are often marginalized in the medical community along with being the target of heavy advertising by tobacco companies which have likely impacted risk to COVID-19 as well.

Computer-based auditory training programs (CBATPs) are used as an at-home aural rehabilitation solution in individuals with hearing impairment, most commonly in recipients of cochlear implants or hearing aids. However, recent advancements in spatial audio and immersive gameplay have not seen inclusion in these programs. Isle Aliquo, a virtual-reality CBATP, is designed to reformat traditional rehabilitation exercises into virtual 3D space. The program explores how the aural exercise outcomes of detection, discrimination, direction, and identification can be improved with the incorporation of directional spatial audio, as well as how the experience can be made more engaging to improve adherence to training routines. Fundamentals of professional aural rehabilitation and current CBATP design inform the structure of the exercise modules found in Isle Aliquo.

In this thesis, I explored the interconnected ways in which human experience can shape and be shaped by environments of the future, such as interactive environments and spaces, embedded with sensors, enlivened by advanced algorithms for sensor data processing. I have developed an abstract representational experience into the vast and continual journey through life that shapes how we can use sensory immersion. The experimental work was housed in the iStage: an advanced black box space in the School of Arts, Media, and Engineering, which consists of video cameras, motion capture systems, spatial audio systems, and controllable lighting and projector systems. The malleable and interactive space of the iStage transformed into a reflective tool in which to gain insight into the overall shared, but very individual, emotional odyssey. Additionally, I surveyed participants after engaging in the experience to better understand their perceptions and interpretations of the experience. With the responses of participants' experiences and collective reflection upon the project I can begin to think about future iterations and how they might contain applications in health and/or wellness.