Embodiment In Virtual Reality Research Articles

Beyond my Real Body: Characterization, Impacts, Applications and Perspectives of "Dissimilar" Avatars in Virtual Reality.

In virtual reality, the avatar - the user's digital representation - is an important element which can drastically influence the immersive experience. In this paper, we especially focus on the use of "dissimilar" avatars i.e., avatars diverging from the real appearance of the user, whether they preserve an anthropomorphic aspect or not. Previous Various studies reported that dissimilar avatars can positively impact have diverse positive impacts on the user experience, in terms for example of interaction, perception or and behaviour. However, given the sparsity and multi-disciplinary character of research related to dissimilar avatars, it tends to lack common understanding and methodology, hampering the establishment of novel knowledge on this topic. In this paper, we propose to address these limitations by discussing: (i) a methodology for dissimilar avatars characterization, (ii) their impacts on the user experience, (iii) their different fields of application, and finally, (iv) future research direction on this topic. Taken together, we believe that this paper can support future research related to dissimilar avatars, and help designers of VR applications to leverage dissimilar avatars appropriately.

"To Be or Not to Be Me?": Exploration of Self-Similar Effects ofAvatars on Social Virtual Reality Experiences.

The growing interest in the self-similarity effect of avatars in virtual reality (VR) has spurred the creation of realistic avatars that closely mirror their users. However, despite extensive research on the self-similarity effect in single-user VR environments, our understanding of its impact in social VR settings remains underdeveloped. This shortfall exists despite the unique socio-psychological phenomena arising from the illusion of embodiment that could potentially alter these effects. To fill this gap, this paper provides an in-depth empirical investigation of how avatars' self-similarity influences social VR experiences. Our research uncovers several notable findings: 1) A high level of avatar self-similarity boosts users' sense of embodiment and social presence but has minimal effects on the overall presence and even slightly hinders immersion. These results are driven by increased self-awareness. 2) Among various factors that contribute to the self-similarity of avatars, voice stands out as a significant influencer of social VR experiences, surpassing other representational factors. 3) The impact of avatar self-similarity shows negligible differences between male and female users. Based on these findings, we discuss the pros and cons of incorporating self-similarity into social VR avatars. Our study serves as a foundation for further research in this field.

SparsePoser: Real-time Full-body Motion Reconstruction from Sparse Data

Accurate and reliable human motion reconstruction is crucial for creating natural interactions of full-body avatars in Virtual Reality (VR) and entertainment applications. As the Metaverse and social applications gain popularity, users are seeking cost-effective solutions to create full-body animations that are comparable in quality to those produced by commercial motion capture systems. In order to provide affordable solutions though, it is important to minimize the number of sensors attached to the subject’s body. Unfortunately, reconstructing the full-body pose from sparse data is a heavily under-determined problem. Some studies that use IMU sensors face challenges in reconstructing the pose due to positional drift and ambiguity of the poses. In recent years, some mainstream VR systems have released 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) tracking devices providing positional and rotational information. Nevertheless, most solutions for reconstructing full-body poses rely on traditional inverse kinematics (IK) solutions, which often produce non-continuous and unnatural poses. In this article, we introduce SparsePoser, a novel deep learning-based solution for reconstructing a full-body pose from a reduced set of six tracking devices. Our system incorporates a convolutional-based autoencoder that synthesizes high-quality continuous human poses by learning the human motion manifold from motion capture data. Then, we employ a learned IK component, made of multiple lightweight feed-forward neural networks, to adjust the hands and feet toward the corresponding trackers. We extensively evaluate our method on publicly available motion capture datasets and with real-time live demos. We show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art techniques using IMU sensors or 6-DoF tracking devices, and can be used for users with different body dimensions and proportions.

Bodylab

Bodylab is a virtual reality system for creating full-body virtual reality avatars. It provides anatomically realistic mannequins as canvases, which can be painted and textured, sculpted and deformed, adorned with objects and animated with particle effects. The artist can work from a first or third person perspective, and variety of interaction modalities are made available. To assess the system, we invite costume designers and theatrical artists to provide expert reviews. We also describe the use of Bodylab in a live dance performance. We believe Bodylab to be the first virtual reality tool for in virtuo painting and sculpting of full-body avatars.

PAIN-EX: Probing Alternative Interventions for Neutralizing pain EXperiences via Embodiment in Virtual Reality.

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social NetworkingAhead of Print PAIN-EX: Probing Alternative Interventions for Neutralizing pain EXperiences via Embodiment in Virtual RealityCompiled by: Anna Felnhofer, Daniel Martinek, Patrick Pazour, and Giuseppe RivaCompiled by: Anna FelnhoferAddress correspondence to: Dr. Anna Felnhofer, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria E-mail Address: anna.felnhofer@meduniwien.ac.atDepartment of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, CCP, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.Search for more papers by this author, Daniel MartinekDaniel Martinek, Doctoral School Computer Science, University of Vienna, Waehringer Straße 29, 1090 Vienna, Austria E-mail Address: daniel.martinek@univie.ac.atDoctoral School Computer Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.Search for more papers by this author, Patrick PazourPatrick Pazour, Doctoral School Computer Science, University of Vienna, Waehringer Straße 29, 1090 Vienna, Austria E-mail Address: patrick.pazour@univie.ac.atDoctoral School Computer Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.Search for more papers by this author, and Giuseppe RivaProf. Giuseppe Riva, Humane Technology Laboratory, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1, 20100 Milan, Italy E-mail Address: giuseppe.riva@unicatt.itHumane Technology Laboratory, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy.Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:19 Jun 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.29286.ceuAboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 0Issue 0 InformationCopyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Compiled by: Anna Felnhofer, Daniel Martinek, Patrick Pazour, and Giuseppe Riva.PAIN-EX: Probing Alternative Interventions for Neutralizing pain EXperiences via Embodiment in Virtual Reality.Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.29286.ceuOnline Ahead of Print:June 19, 2023PDF download

A Serious Game for the Assessment of Visuomotor Adaptation Capabilities during Locomotion Tasks Employing an Embodied Avatar in Virtual Reality.

The study of visuomotor adaptation (VMA) capabilities has been encompassed in various experimental protocols aimed at investigating human motor control strategies and/or cognitive functions. VMA-oriented frameworks can have clinical applications, primarily in the investigation and assessment of neuromotor impairments caused by conditions such as Parkinson's disease or post-stroke, which affect the lives of tens of thousands of people worldwide. Therefore, they can enhance the understanding of the specific mechanisms of such neuromotor disorders, thus being a potential biomarker for recovery, with the aim of being integrated with conventional rehabilitative programs. Virtual Reality (VR) can be entailed in a framework targeting VMA since it allows the development of visual perturbations in a more customizable and realistic way. Moreover, as has been demonstrated in previous works, a serious game (SG) can further increase engagement thanks to the use of full-body embodied avatars. Most studies implementing VMA frameworks have focused on upper limb tasks and have utilized a cursor as visual feedback for the user. Hence, there is a paucity in the literature about VMA-oriented frameworks targeting locomotion tasks. In this article, the authors present the design, development, and testing of an SG-based framework that addresses VMA in a locomotion activity by controlling a full-body moving avatar in a custom VR environment. This workflow includes a set of metrics to quantitatively assess the participants' performance. Thirteen healthy children were recruited to evaluate the framework. Several quantitative comparisons and analyses were run to validate the different types of introduced visuomotor perturbations and to evaluate the ability of the proposed metrics to describe the difficulty caused by such perturbations. During the experimental sessions, it emerged that the system is safe, easy to use, and practical in a clinical setting. Despite the limited sample size, which represents the main limitation of the study and can be compensated for with future recruitment, the authors claim the potential of this framework as a useful instrument for quantitatively assessing either motor or cognitive impairments. The proposed feature-based approach gives several objective parameters as additional biomarkers that can integrate the conventional clinical scores. Future studies might investigate the relation between the proposed biomarkers and the clinical scores for specific disorders such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy.

EEG signature of breaks in embodiment in VR.

The brain mechanism of embodiment in a virtual body has grown a scientific interest recently, with a particular focus on providing optimal virtual reality (VR) experiences. Disruptions from an embodied state to a less- or non-embodied state, denominated Breaks in Embodiment (BiE), are however rarely studied despite their importance for designing interactions in VR. Here we use electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor the brain's reaction to a BiE, and investigate how this reaction depends on previous embodiment conditions. The experimental protocol consisted of two sequential steps; an induction step where participants were either embodied or non-embodied in an avatar, and a monitoring step where, in some cases, participants saw the avatar's hand move while their hand remained still. Our results show the occurrence of error-related potentials linked to observation of the BiE event in the monitoring step. Importantly, this EEG signature shows amplified potentials following the non-embodied condition, which is indicative of an accumulation of errors across steps. These results provide neurophysiological indications on how progressive disruptions impact the expectation of embodiment for a virtual body.

Upper Body Pose Estimation Using Deep Learning for a Virtual Reality Avatar

With the popularity of virtual reality (VR) games and devices, demand is increasing for estimating and displaying user motion in VR applications. Most pose estimation methods for VR avatars exploit inverse kinematics (IK) and online motion capture methods. In contrast to existing approaches, we aim for a stable process with less computation, usable in a small space. Therefore, our strategy has minimum latency for VR device users, from high-performance to low-performance, in multi-user applications over the network. In this study, we estimate the upper body pose of a VR user in real time using a deep learning method. We propose a novel method inspired by a classical regression model and trained with 3D motion capture data. Thus, our design uses a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architecture from the joint information of motion capture data and modifies the network input and output to obtain input from a head and both hands. After feeding the model with properly normalized inputs, a head-mounted display (HMD), and two controllers, we render the user’s corresponding avatar in VR applications. We used our proposed pose estimation method to build single-user and multi-user applications, measure their performance, conduct a user study, and compare the results with previous methods for VR avatars.

“Scoliosis 3D”—A Virtual-Reality-Based Methodology Aiming to Examine AIS Females’ Body Image

Modern techniques such as virtual-reality (VR) tasks might offer a unique method for eliciting state-variable fluctuations in body satisfaction and associated behaviors. The study aim was to develop the application of biometric avatars in VR as a useful tool to investigate changes within body representation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). All the avatars were created on the basis of 3D scans of bodies of real female patients with thoracic scoliosis, of 12–18 years of age, consecutively selected for brace treatment or posterior correction and fusion. A 3D, white-light LED scanner was used. The models were rigged using 3DS Max software, to enable the possibility of human-type interaction and animation. The “Avatar Scoliosis 3D” is an innovative 3D, interactive-XR application, loosely based on the virtual-mirror concept, and contains a number of predefined avatars, each with a different Cobb angle. It is possible to change a selected avatar to one with a different Cobb angle (lower or higher), should the patient decide the visualization of the original is incompatible with their own perception. In conclusion, the possible application of biometric avatars in VR as a useful tool to investigate changes within body image in AIS was proposed.

Understanding the effects of hand design on embodiment in virtual reality

Abstract Understanding user perceptions of interacting with the virtual world is one of the research focuses in recent years, given the rapid proliferation of virtual reality (VR) and driven to establish the metaverse. Users can generate a familiar connection between their bodies and the virtual world by being embodied in virtual hands, and hand representations can induce users’ embodiment in VR. The sense of embodiment represents the cognitive awareness of one's manifestation and includes three subcomponents: the sense of body ownership, agency and self-location. There is insufficient evidence in the literature about the effects of hand designs on the embodiment, especially based on studying its three subcomponents. This study investigates how virtual hand designs with five realism levels influence the three subcomponents of embodiment in VR. This research employs a self-report questionnaire commonly used in the literature to assess embodiment and evaluates agency and self-location by introducing implicit methods (intentional binding and proprioceptive measurement) derived from psychology. Besides, the objective data of eye tracking is used to explore the connection between embodiment and hand designs, and classifying participants’ eye tracking data to help analyze the link between embodiment and user attention. Overall, this research makes a major contribution through a systematic exploration of users’ embodied experience in VR and offers important evidence of the effects of virtual hand designs on body ownership, agency, and self-location, respectively. In addition, this study provides a valuable reference for further investigation of embodiment through implicit and objective methods, and practical design recommendations for virtual hand design in VR applications.

From Avatars to Hybrid Bodies: Postdualist and Posthumanist Approaches to the Anthropology of Virtual Reality

The dynamic development of virtual reality (VR) technology is reconfiguring the relationship between humans and their avatars in virtual worlds. Physical bodies and spaces become entangled with their digital counterparts and are engaged in events within virtual environments, necessitating a shift in the approach to conducting anthropological research in VR. This essay challenges digital dualism through the exploration of the hybrid nature of embodiment in VR. The aim of the text is to lay the groundwork for a postdualistic and posthumanist approach to VR anthropology, which emphasizes the entanglements between humans and technologies, and between physical and digital bodies, blurring the boundaries between these dichotomies. In this approach, I conceptualize VR users as cyborg assemblages, emerging in intra-actions between humans, technologies, and digital bodies, thereby highlighting the agency of non-humans in co-shaping their hybrid somaticity.

Distortions of Body Perception during Immersion in Computer Virtual Reality Using Full-Body Tracking

Person’s immersion in computer virtual reality (VR) is accompanied by numerous distortions in his/her perception due to the replacement of sensory stimuli coming through visual, auditory and partially proprioceptive channels. In this case, the person’s own body becomes an immersion tool, since its movements indirectly affect the movement of the avatar in VR. Performing actions in VR on behalf of the avatar contributes to the appearance of distortions in the perception of one’s own body due to the diffuse effect of actualizing the operational image at the moment of purposeful activity (the subjective body image is modified in accordance with the need to adapt to VR conditions). There are various ways of immersing in VR, taking into account the different degree of involvement of individual parts of the recipient’s real body in controlling a digital character. Thus, the full-body tracking (FBT) technology is becoming widespread, allowing the use of almost all human gross motor skills for projection onto the movements of the avatar. The purpose of the study was to establish the specific features of the distortion of a person’s perception of the size of his/her own body, after its being immersed in computer virtual reality, and the control over the avatar using the FBT technology. The study was conducted in two stages (in 2020 and 2021) in order to compare the intensity and direction of body image distortions of the subjects when they were immersed with and without the FBT technology. The OhShape VR app for mobile immersion without FBT and a modification of the VR Chat app for mobile immersion with FBT were used as experimental exposures. Psychometric data on the subjects’ perception of their own bodies were obtained using the psychometric data on the subjects’ perception of their own bodies were obtained using Moshe Feldenkrais’ methods for physical measurements. According to the results of the study, the use of FBT during immersion in VR leads to distortions in the perception of various body sizes by the subjects, including the trunk and legs, while mobile immersion without the use of FBT only causes distortions in the perception of the dimensions of the upper shoulder girdle. It should be noted that this observation testifies to the connection of distortions with the facts of the involvement of the corresponding parts of the real body of the subjects in the process of controlling the avatar. It is concluded that there are specific distortions in the perception of a person’s own body when being immersed in VR using FBT. Finally, an assumption is made about the possible connection of these distortions with the success of performing intra-environment mobile tasks.

Examining the Effects of Gender Transfer in Virtual Reality on Implicit Gender Bias.

To investigate the effect of gender transfer in virtual reality on implicit gender bias. Gender bias is a type of discrimination based on gender, which can lead to increased self-doubt and decreased self-esteem. Sexual harassment is a hostile form of gender bias that can cause anxiety, depression, and significant mental health issues. Virtual reality (VR) has been employed to help make people become aware of their biases and change their attitudes regarding gender, race, and age. Forty participants were embodied in avatars of different genders and experienced sexual harassment scenarios in VR. A gender Implicit Association Test (IAT) was administered before and after the experience. There was a statistically significant main effect of participant gender (F (1,36) = 10.67, p = .002, partial η2 = .23) on ΔIAT, where males and females reported a decrease (M = -.12, SD = .24) and an increase (M = .10, SD = .25) in IAT scores, respectively. A statistically significant two-way interaction between gender transfer and participant gender was revealed (F (1,36) = 6.32, p = .02, partial η2 = .15). There was a significant simple effect of gender transfer for male participants (F (1,36) = 8.70, p = .006, partial η2 = .19). Implicit gender bias can be modified, at least temporarily, through embodiment in VR. Gender transfer through embodiment while encountering different sexual harassment scenarios helped reduce implicit gender bias. There was a tendency for individuals to increase bias for the gender of the avatar in which they embodied. The current research provided promising evidence that a virtual environment system may be used as a potential training tool to improve implicit gender bias.

Immersive environments, Metaverse and the key challenges in programming

Metaverse is a virtual reality (VR) environment with avatars and software agents using the internet and augmented reality (AR). This one is described as a new iteration of the internet, Metaverse uses VR headsets, blockchain technology and avatars in a new fusion of real and virtual worlds. The role of the programmer in the metaverse is to create and maintain programs that control the behavior of virtual objects and entities within the virtual space. This can include characters controlled by the computer, animations, special effects, and other visual and interactive elements. Programmers in the metaverse may work on a variety of different projects, such as developing new virtual worlds, creating games or other interactive experiences, or building tools and applications for use within the metaverse. They may also be responsible for maintaining and updating existing programs, fixing bugs, and optimizing performance. The main challenge facing programmers in the metaverse is creating a seamless and immersive experience for users. This involves designing and implementing a wide range of features, such as realistic and interactive 3D environments, avatars, physics and interactions, network communication and synchronization, and AI-powered non-player characters. The development of the metaverse requires a wide range of skills and technologies, including expertise in computer graphics, networking, AI, and user experience design.

Immersive Virtual Reality Avatars for Embodiment Illusions in People With Mild to Borderline Intellectual Disability: User-Centered Development and Feasibility Study.

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has been investigated as a tool for treating psychiatric conditions. In particular, the practical nature of IVR, by offering a doing instead of talking approach, could support people who do not benefit from existing treatments. Hence, people with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID; IQ=50-85) might profit particularly from IVR therapies, for instance, to circumvent issues in understanding relevant concepts and interrelations. In this context, immersing the user into a virtual body (ie, avatar) appears promising for enhancing learning (eg, by changing perspectives) and usability (eg, natural interactions). However, design requirements, immersion procedures, and proof of concept of such embodiment illusion (ie, substituting the real body with a virtual one) have not been explored in this group. Our study aimed to establish design guidelines for IVR embodiment illusions in people with MBID. We explored 3 factors to induce the illusion, by testing the avatar's appearance, locomotion using IVR controllers, and virtual object manipulation. Furthermore, we report on the feasibility to induce the embodiment illusion and provide procedural guidance. We conducted a user-centered study with 29 end users in care facilities, to investigate the avatar's appearance, controller-based locomotion (ie, teleport, joystick, or hybrid), and object manipulation. Overall, 3 iterations were conducted using semistructured interviews to explore design factors to induce embodiment illusions in our group. To further understand the influence of interactions on the illusion, we measured the sense of embodiment (SoE) during 5 interaction tasks. IVR embodiment illusions can be induced in adults with MBID. To induce the illusion, having a high degree of control over the body outweighed avatar customization, despite the participants' desire to replicate their own body image. Similarly, the highest SoE was measured during object manipulation tasks, which required a combination of (virtual) locomotion and object manipulation behavior. Notably, interactions that are implausible (eg, teleport and occlusions when grabbing) showed a negative influence on SoE. In contrast, implementing artificial interaction aids into the IVR avatar's hands (ie, for user interfaces) did not diminish the illusion, presuming that the control was unimpaired. Nonetheless, embodiment illusions showed a tedious and complex need for (control) habituation (eg, motion sickness), possibly hindering uptake in practice. Balancing the embodiment immersion by focusing on interaction habituation (eg, controller-based locomotion) and lowering customization effort seems crucial to achieve both high SoE and usability for people with MBID. Hence, future studies should investigate the requirements for natural IVR avatar interactions by using multisensory integrations for the virtual body (eg, animations, physics-based collision, and touch) and other interaction techniques (eg, hand tracking and redirected walking). In addition, procedures and use for learning should be explored for tailored mental health therapies in people with MBID.

Assessing Inhibitory Control in the Real World Is Virtually Possible: A Virtual Reality Demonstration.

Executive functions are the key ingredient for behaviour regulation. Among them, inhibitory control is one of the main exponents of executive functions, and in the last decades, it has received a good amount of attention thanks to the development of chronometric tasks associated with paradigms that allow exploring human behaviour when the inhibitory component is needed. Among the different paradigms typically used, the Simon and flanker tasks are probably the most popular ones. These have been subjected to modifications in order to assess inhibitory control from different perspectives (e.g., in different samples or in combination with different research techniques). However, its use has been relegated to classical presentation modalities within laboratory settings. The accessibility of virtual reality (VR) technology has opened new research avenues to investigate inhibition control with a high ecological validity while retaining tightly controlled lab conditions and good measurement accuracy. We present two cutting-edge modifications of the standard Simon and flanker tasks that have been adapted to real-world settings using VR and human-like avatars as target stimuli. Our findings show that virtual reality is a credible tool for testing inhibitory control with a high degree of transferability and generalizability to the real world.

Virtual Reality Embodiment in Motor Imagery Brain–Computer Interface Training

This study investigates how the avatar embodiment in virtual reality (VR) influences training for operation of motor imagery brain–computer interfaces (MI-BCIs). In previous studies, we demonstrated the possibility to induce a BCI-based VR avatar embodiment (using mental commands instead of motion tracking) for purposes of training facilitation. This paper examines the relationship between BCI performance and subjective levels of embodiment, as well as differences in BCI performance achieved with training in two different VR environments. MI-BCI training variants with the following forms of feedback were studied: a) with feedback exploiting avatar embodiment in immersive VR (avatar movements indicating the user performance), b) with feedback exploiting avatar embodiment in gamified and progressively paced VR training, and c) with symbolic feedback in the standard training with Graz protocol. On-line performance from the BCI experiments and questionnaires on the sense of ownership and sense of agency toward the virtual avatar were studied. Questionnaire analysis showed that a robust sense of embodiment arose in the VR training environments, with a strong correlation between the reported ownership and agency toward the avatar. Interestingly, the achieved BCI performance was uncorrelated with both the ownership and the agency. Using gamification further increased the performance (but not the reported sense of ownership) in the training session. Embodiment in VR mediated by synchrony between mental commands and visual stimulation in VR arose under different conditions than embodiment based on visuo-motor synchrony. Consistency between the perceived sense of ownership and agency plays a more important role than the ability to issue MI-BCI commands correctly. These findings help to elucidate the positive effect of embodiment to initial steps in BCI training and can be leveraged in future MI-BCI training designs.

Identifying emotions toward an overweight avatar in Virtual Reality: The moderating effects of visuotactile stimulation and drive for thinness

Virtual reality technologies can be used to alter one’s body image by inducing ownership of an overweight virtual body. This illusion can possibly lead to both negative affective responses toward the virtual body as well as perceptual changes of one’s own body size, which are both scarcely examined with regard to the embodiment of an overweight avatar. This study’s fundamental aim is to investigate, among healthy weight participants, whether negative affect toward a virtual body and changes in body-size perception can be evoked when embodying an overweight virtual avatar. Additionally, the study investigates whether applying visuotactile stimulation (which has been identified as a proxy for virtual body ownership by previous studies) and drive for thinness influence the strength of these effects. A 2 (healthy weight vs. overweight virtual body) × 2 (congruent vs. incongruent visuotactile stimulation) between-subjects design was employed, with participants’ drive for thinness measured to test its potential moderating effect. ANOVAs revealed that participants (N = 114) experienced significantly more negative affect toward the virtual body when embodying one that was overweight compared to a healthy weight virtual body. Visuotactile stimulation did not moderate this effect, even though the manipulation of visuotactile stimulation worked as intended (i.e., the experience of ownership over the virtual body was significantly higher in the congruent compared to incongruent visuotactile stimulation condition). Additionally, participants with a high drive for thinness did not experience significantly more negative affect than participants with a low drive for thinness. Embodiment of an overweight avatar did not affect body-size perceptions, nor did visuotactile stimulation or the drive for thinness moderate this effect. Knowing that embodiment of an overweight avatar results in negative affective responses toward it, future studies could deepen our understanding of the role of negative affect in the transfer of emotions to one’s own body, and the interplay between negative affect toward a virtual body and body-size perceptions.

Understanding pre-service teachers' experiences of a mixed reality simulation environment: An analysis of pre-service teachers’ perspectives on communicating with a simulated parent avatar


 
 
 The integration of simulation platforms in the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs enables pre-service teachers (PSTs) to experience a range of teaching scenarios that they might not otherwise encounter in real-world practicum contexts. Understanding PSTs’ perspectives of their experiences of these new learning spaces is critical in determining the role played by simulation platforms in the preparation for placements, their specific affordances for learning and how these platforms can be effectively integrated to support PSTs’ practices. This paper reports on a pilot study of PSTs’ participation in a simulated parent conference session with a parent avatar in SIMLabTM, a mixed reality simulation environment. SIMLabTM allows the facilitation of synchronous responses by a human interactor playing a virtual reality avatar to enhance the authenticity of the experience for PSTs. Based on data drawn from a cross- sectional survey design, the paper provides an analysis of PSTs’ perspectives on six possible affordances of SIMLabTM and describes emergent themes gleaned from PSTs’ comments on their learning experiences within and in relation to SIMLabTM. The findings inform the design and implementation of the simulation experience in ITE programs.
 
 

Camera Modes in Multi-user Virtual Reality Applications in Industry 4.0

This paper describes four scenarios of cooperation between a user in virtual reality and a user using interaction through computer peripherals. User cooperation is used in applications for Industry 4.0 in the field of employee training or in the deployment of digital twin companies. Four scenarios are devoted to the possibility of displaying scenes and the use of avatars in virtual reality using outside in tracked headsets and a user using a monitor display with control via a keyboard and computer mouse. Within the scenarios, we define the VR view, the use of a free camera, the character mode, and the automatic orbit camera, the movement of which depends on the position and orientation of the user in space in virtual reality. We show the applications of individual scenarios in a case study of user training in the field of mining and production in industrial enterprises. In the tests, we compared the increase in productivity of employees after training with the use of assisted VR in a multiuser environment.