Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Interaction in Virtual Environments: Key Issues, Common Themes, and a Framework for Research

  • Chapter
The Social Life of Avatars

Part of the book series: Computer Supported Cooperative Work ((CSCW))

Abstract

In this chapter, I will give an overview of some central issues in research on shared virtual environments (VEs) - including "presence", "copresence", communication, and small and large group dynamics - across a range of virtual reality (VR) technologies and different conditions under which they are used. I will discuss different studies of the interplay between technological systems and their social implications, and how sociological insights about interaction in the real world can be brought to bear on interaction in YEs. Finally, I will argue that making links between different areas of research can lead to a better understanding of social interaction in VEs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Schroeder, R. (1996). Possible Worlds: The Social Dynamic of Virtual Reality Technology. Boulder, CO:, Westview.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ellis, S. (1991). Nature and Origins of Virtual Environments: a bibliographical essay. Computer Systems in Engineering 2(4): 321–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cruz-Neira, C., Sandin, D., DeFant, T. (1993). Surround-screen projection-based virtual reality: the design and implementation of the CAVE. Computer Graphics Proceedings, Annual Conference Series 1993. ACM SIGGRAPH, New York: ACM, pp.135–42

    Google Scholar 

  4. Smith, M. and Kollock, P. (Eds) (1999). Communities in Cyberspace. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kiesler, S. (Ed) (1997). Cultures ofthe Internet. Mahwah NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  6. van Dijk, J. (1999). The Network Society: Social Aspects ofNew Media. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Schroeder, R., Heather, N., Lee, R. (1998). The Sacred and the Virtual: Religion in Multi-User Virtual Reality. Journal ofComputer Mediated Communication, Volume 4, Issue 2, (available online).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Isselstein, W.A., Lombard, M., Freeman, J. (2001). Toward a Core Bibliography of Presence, Cyberpsychology and Behaviour, 4(2): 317–321.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Scheumie, M.J., van der Straaten, P., Krijn, M, van der Mast, C. (2001) Research on Presence in Virtual Reality: A Survey, Cyberpsychology and Behaviour, 4(2): 183–201.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ellis, S. (1996). Presence of Mind: A Reaction to Thomas Sheridan’s "Further Musings on the Psychophysics of Presence", Presence: Journal of Teleoperators and Virtual Environments 5(2): 247–59.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Slater, M., Sadagic, A., Usoh, M., Schroeder, R.(2000). Small Group Behaviour in a Virtual and Real Environment: A Comparative Study. Presence: Journal of Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 9(1): 37–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Axelsson, A., Abelin, Å., Heldal, I., Schroeder, R., Wideström, J. (2001). Cubes in the Cube: A Comparison of a Puzzle-solving Task in a Virtual and a Real Environment. Cyberl Psychology and Behavior, 4(2): 279–86.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schroeder, R. et a1. (2001). Collaborating in networked immersive spaces: as good as being there together? Computers & Graphics, 25(5): 781–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Axelsson, A., et al. (1999). Collaboration and Communication in Multi-User Virtual Environments: A Comparison of Desktop and Immersive Virtual Reality Systems for Molecular Visualization, in T., Fernando (ed.) UKVRSIG’99. Proceedings of Sixth UKVRSIG Conference, University of Salford 14th Sept., pp.l07–18.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schroeder, R., Axelsson, A. (2000). Trust in the Core: A Study of Long-term Users of Activeworlds, in Digital Borderlands, a Cybercultural Symposium, Norrköping, Sweden, 12-13 May.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Buescher, M., O’Brien J., Rodden, T. and Trevor, J. (2001). "He’s Behind You": The Experience ofPresence in Shared Virtual Environments. In Churchill, E., Snowdon, D. and Munro, A (Eds). Collaborative Virtual Environments: Digital Places and Spaces for Interaction. London: Springer, pp.77–98.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Allwood, J., Schroeder, R. (2000). Intercultural Communication in Virtual Environments, Intercultural Communication, issue 3 (available online).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Abelin, A., Axelsson, A, Schroeder, R. (2001). Anyone speak Spanish? Language encounters in virtual environments - a study of Active Worlds, in The Seventh International Symposium on Social Communication. Santiago de Cuba.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Schroeder, R. (1997). Networked Worlds: Social Aspects of Multi-User Virtual Reality Technology. Sociological Research Online, 2(4) (available online).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hirose, M., Ogi, T. and Yamada, T. (1999). Integrating Live Video for Immersive Environments. IEEE Multimedia, July-September: 14-22.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schroeder, R., Huxor, A, and Smith, A (2001). Activeworlds: geography and social interaction in virtual reality. Futures: a journal of forecasting, planning and policy 33: 569–87.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dodge, M. and Kitchin, R. (2000). Mapping Cyberspace. London:, Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Munro, A, Höök, K. and Benyon, D. (Eds) (1999). Social Navigation of Information Space. London: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Schroeder, R. (1999). Social Life in Virtual Worlds: Structure and Interaction in Multi-User Virtual Reality Technology. Communications & Strategies.33(1): 137–150.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  25. Craven, C. et al. (2000). Ages ofAvatar: Community Building for Inhabited Television. In E., Churchill and M., Reddy (Eds.) CVE2000: Proceedings ofthe Third International Conference on Collaborative Virtual Environments. New York: ACM Press, pp. 189–94.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  26. Turner, J. (1988). A Theory of Social Interaction. Stanford CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Collins, R. (1988). Theoretical Sociology. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pargman, D. (2000) Code Begets Community: on social and technical aspects of managing a virtual community. Linköping studies in arts and science no. 224: Linköpings Universitet.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Turkle, S. (1997 2nd ed.) Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet. London: Phoenix.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Stanney, K. and Salvendy, G. et al. (1998). Aftereffects and sense of presence in virtual environments: Fonnulation of a research and development agenda. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. 10: 135–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Goffinan, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Goffinan, E. (1974). Frame Analysis. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Meyrowitz, J. (1985). No Sense of Place: The Impact of Electronic Media on Social Behaviour. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Benford, J. et al. (1995). Networked Virtual Reality and Cooperative Work. Presence: Journal of Teleoperators and Virtual Environments 4(4): 364–86.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Schiano, D. (1999). Lessons from LambdaMOO: A Social, Text-Based Virtual Environment. Presence: Journal ofTeleoperators and Virtual Environments 8(2): 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Wellman, B., Gulia, M. (1999). Net-Surfers Don’t Ride Alone: Virtual Communities as Communities. In Wellman, B. (Ed.) Networks in the Global Village. Boulder, CO: Westview, pp.331–66.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Ralph Schroeder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technology and Society, Chalmers University, S-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Ralph Schroeder BA, MSc, PhD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schroeder, R. (2002). Social Interaction in Virtual Environments: Key Issues, Common Themes, and a Framework for Research. In: Schroeder, R. (eds) The Social Life of Avatars. Computer Supported Cooperative Work. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0277-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0277-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-461-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-0277-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation