Multi-Embodiment of Digital Humans in Virtual Reality for Assisting Human-Centered Ergonomics Design

Abstract

We present a multi-embodiment interface aimed at assisting human-centered ergonomics design, where traditionally the design process is hindered by the need of recruiting diverse users or the utilization of disembodied simulations to address designing for most groups of the population. The multi-embodiment solution is to actively embody the user in the design and evaluation process in virtual reality, while simultaneously superimposing additional simulated virtual bodies on the user's own body. This superimposed body acts as the target and enables simultaneous anthropometrical ergonomics evaluation for both the user's self and the target. Both virtual bodies of self and target are generated using digital human modeling from statistical data, and the animation of self-body is motioncaptured while the target body is moved using a weighted inverse kinematics approach with end effectors on the hands and feet. We conducted user studies to evaluate human ergonomics design in five scenarios in virtual reality, comparing multi-embodiment with single embodiment. Similar evaluations were conducted again in the physical environment after virtual reality evaluations to explore the post-VR influence of different virtual experience.

Acquisition of the Width of a Virtual Body through Collision Avoidance Trials

“…They can observe themselves from the perspective outside their body while they are practicing [13]. Fan et al [23] presented a multi-embodiment interface for ergonomic product design in which additional simulated virtual bodies are superimposed on the user's own body. The idea of controlling the size of people meeting face to face is presented in [24], aiming to reduce the discomfort caused by inappropriate interpersonal distance and thus enable a comfortable social life.…”