Methods and apparatus are provided for evoking perceptions of affordances in a user/virtual environment interface. The method involves recognizing the absence or inadequacy of certain sensory stimuli in the user/virtual environment interface, and then creating sensory stimuli in the virtual environment to substitute for the recognized absent or inadequate sensory stimuli. The substitute sensory stimuli are typically communicated to the user (e.g., visually and/or audibly) as properties and behavior of objects in the virtual environment. Appropriately designed substitute sensory stimuli can evoke perceptions of affordances for the recognized absent or inadequate sensory stimuli in the user/virtual environment interface.