Design and evaluation of different selection metaphors for a dissimilar co-embodied avatar in virtual reality

Virtual Reality (VR) enables immersive experiences in which users interact with computer-generated environments through avatars. This interaction is based on embodiment, the psychological feeling of “being in” a virtual body. The user's perception of realism and experience in the VR environment is strongly influenced by the “Sense of Embodiment” (SoE). However, traditional VR interfaces often rely on human-centric selection and manipulation metaphors (e.g., hand or raycast) that may not translate well to dissimilar avatars, i.e., avatars that differ (sometimes greatly) from human anatomy. In particular, co-embodied scenarios, where multiple users share control of a single avatar, require appropriate selection and interaction metaphors, as traditional metaphors often prove inadequate. This thesis describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of selection and manipulation metaphors in VR for a dissimilar co-embodied avatar. An interaction platform was developed within an existing multi-user VR environment built using Unity3D software. This platform allows users to share control of a dissimilar avatar and interact with virtual objects in the environment. Several interaction metaphors have been developed that fit well with the capabilities of the dissimilar avatar. In particular, this thesis investigates how different interaction metaphors affect user experience, SoE, and co-presence in VR. Furthermore, the implemented interaction metaphors were evaluated in a user study in order to understand which metaphors are suitable and can be considered for future developments of shared control of co-embodied dissimilar avatars in VR. The results showed that there are indeed differences between the interaction metaphors in terms of performance, sense of agency, and SoE. They also showed that the developed interaction metaphors are suitable for the dissimilar avatar and form a basis for further development in the future.