Interacting with Presence: HCI and the Sense of Presence in Computer-mediated Environments

The sense of presence in virtual environments:

Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie ◽

10.1026//1617-6383.15.2.69 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 69-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

Thomas W. Schubert

Keyword(s):

Virtual Environments ◽

Coding Theory ◽

Model Building ◽

Self Report ◽

Survey Study ◽

Spatial Presence ◽

Component Structure ◽

Sense Of Presence ◽

Being There ◽

Measure Sense

Abstract. The sense of presence is the feeling of being there in a virtual environment. A three-component self report scale to measure sense of presence is described, the components being sense of spatial presence, involvement, and realness. This three-component structure was developed in a survey study with players of 3D games (N = 246) and replicated in a second survey study (N = 296); studies using the scale for measuring the effects of interaction on presence provide evidence for validity. The findings are explained by the Potential Action Coding Theory of presence, which assumes that presence develops from mental model building and suppression of the real environment.

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How Socially Relevant Visual Characteristics of Avatars Influence Impression Formation

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105/a000005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 37-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

David Weibel ◽

Daniel Stricker ◽

Bartholomäus Wissmath ◽

Fred W. Mast

Keyword(s):

Impression Formation ◽

Pupil Size ◽

Conscious Perception ◽

Viewing Angle ◽

Frontal View ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

First Impression ◽

Visual Characteristics ◽

Socially Relevant ◽

Blink Frequency

Like in the real world, the first impression a person leaves in a computer-mediated environment depends on his or her online appearance. The present study manipulates an avatar’s pupil size, eyeblink frequency, and the viewing angle to investigate whether nonverbal visual characteristics are responsible for the impression made. We assessed how participants (N = 56) evaluate these avatars in terms of different attributes. The findings show that avatars with large pupils and slow eye blink frequency are perceived as more sociable and more attractive. Compared to avatars seen in full frontal view or from above, avatars seen from below were rated as most sociable, self-confident, and attractive. Moreover, avatars’ pupil size and eyeblink frequency escape the viewer’s conscious perception but still influence how people evaluate them. The findings have wide-ranging applied implications for avatar design.

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