Abstract
This paper reports on experimental studies looking into the experience of people who are collaborating in shared virtual environments. In these environments, people are represented as 'avatars' in virtual space. The studies reported here suggest that the way in which people are represented has a strong effect on others' perceptions. The effects on the feeling of closeness or 'accord' of people who meet in this way are contrasted with more natural real-life meetings where all the normal social cues are available. The characteristics of the systems used to access the shared virtual environment are considered. Different systems offering differing degrees of perceived 'immersion' in an environment are discussed, and their effects on social behaviours such as leadership are considered.
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Slater, M. Real People Meeting Virtually Real People — a Review of Some Experiments in Shared Virtual Environments. BT Technology Journal 17, 120–127 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009635210898
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009635210898