User Authentication Mechanisms Based on Immersive Technologies: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Immersive technologies are revolutionary technological advancements that offer users unparalleled experiences of immersion in a virtual or mixed world of virtual and real elements. In such technology, user privacy, security, and anonymity are paramount, as users often share private and sensitive information. Therefore, user authentication is a critical requirement in these environments. This paper presents a systematic literature review of recently published research papers on immersive technology-based user authentication mechanisms. After conducting the literature search in September 2023 using Scopus, the selection process identified 36 research publications that were further analyzed. The analysis revealed three major types of authentications related to immersive technologies, consistent with previous works: knowledge-based, biometric, and multi-factor methods. The reviewed papers are categorized according to these groups, and the methods used are scrutinized. To the best of our knowledge, this systematic literature review is the first that provides a comprehensive consolidation of immersive technologies for user authentication in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.