Before and After Avatar Exposure

Abstract

Loker et. al. initiated a call for research investigating how third dimension (3-D) affects one's perceptions of their own body by raising the following questions: Will the ability to see ourselves in 3-D increase body acceptance of normal variations and counteract the popular media images of what constitutes a beautiful body? Or will 3-D views increase dissatisfaction with our real bodies? In response, the researcher guided by self-discrepancy theory, investigated the unique experience of viewing one's body in 3-D on participants' self-reported levels of body satisfaction, mood, and appearance management. Results indicated that viewing one's avatar in 3-D magnifies individuals' actual-ideal (AI) self-discrepancies regardless of gender. The researcher observed decreased body satisfaction and mood when the magnitude of participants' AI discrepancies increased. Both men and women indicated wanting to engage in greater appearance management behaviors postavatar viewing compared to baseline reports. The theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

I am Not an Object: Reframing 3D Body Scanning for Co-Design

“…When it comes to the experience of being scanned studies show that the 3D body scanning process may negatively affect people who experience it. For example, work related to whole-body scanning shows that viewing their own 3D image can negatively influence people's perception of their own bodies [13] and make some of them feel threatened, vulnerable and shocked [6] showing that body scanning process unfolds a range of personal sensitivities. We see that the experience of being scanned is not yet well researched from a co-design perspective and this paper aims to contribute to this area of research.…”

“…User participation is essential in ultra-personalization as designers rely on users being willing to have their bodies scanned and to share their body shape data with manufacturers. Prior research shows that some users who were willing to be scanned perceived body scanning and viewing own image in 3D as an uncomfortable experience [6,13]. This indicates that users' needs and concerns remain unrecognized during 3D body scanning.…”