The physical body as a computing interface: Theoretical conceptualization of embodied affordances and empirical validation

Abstract

Despite the growing interest in immersive virtual reality (IVR) for collaboration and the rising prevalence of commercial applications, the extant body of knowledge on IVR is still in a nascent stage. A paucity of empirical studies have investigated the affordances engendered for collaboration, resulting in a lack of theoretical underpinnings for comprehending the impact of IVR on collaboration outcomes. In an effort to address these lacunae in research, this study explores how IVR affordances for collaboration influence task performance and collaboration satisfaction. Drawing on the metaverse framework for collaboration against the backdrop of the corporeal embodiment concept, this study develops a research model that investigates the interplay between IVR affordances for collaboration, collaborative behavior enactment, and collaboration outcomes. The model was tested using data collected from 168 subjects who participated in a virtual collaboration using IVR in a laboratory setting. The results of the study showed that avatar customizability was a key antecedent to embodied affordances, among which embodied communication and embodied team processing jointly influenced collaborative behavior enactment, which, in turn, influenced collaboration outcomes (task performance and collaboration satisfaction). This study contributes to the IVR literature by conceptualizing novel affordances for collaboration facilitated by IVR and empirically scrutinizing the manner in which perceived affordances precipitate their actualization, subsequently affecting collaboration outcomes. With respect to practice, the findings of this study provide useful insights for organizational managers and IVR developers who seek to harness the benefits of IVR for effective collaboration.