Comparing Remote and In-person Collaboration in Three Virtual Tasks Using a Two-handed Interface

Abstract

We describe an immersive and distributed 3D medical system that uses a Two-Handed Interface (THI) to enable intuitive interaction with multimedia objects and space. Previous studies have shown a THI to be useful compared to standard keyboard-and mouse interfaces. The current work examined the utility of a THI in virtual, avatar-to-avatar collaboration (i.e. two THI users in a shared virtual space, with one acting as a subject and one as a mentor). Twenty-five medically trained participants carried out the tasks of (1) navigation through virtual environments, (2) acquisition of shared visual perspective, and (3) precision manipulation of virtual objects. All tasks were carried out by each participant in face-to-face and in avatarto-avatar mentoring conditions. Results show avatar-to-avatar collaboration to be faster on all three types of tasks than face-to-face collaboration (p<.01). Using a THI, virtual telecollaboration was more effective than in-person collaboration in these virtual tasks.