Presence in Text-Based Networked Virtual Environments or “MUDS”

Towell, John F.; Towell, Elizabeth R.

doi:10.1162/pres.1997.6.5.590

Cited by 52 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…38 To make the measure more reliable, often several questions are used. 39,40 However, recently a more or less systematic approach has been taken to establish reliable and validated questionnaires.…”

Section: Subjective Measures: Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Presence in Virtual Reality: A Survey

Schuemie

Straaten

Krijn

et al. 2001

CyberPsychology & Behavior

741

358

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Virtual Reality (VR) is starting to be used in psychological therapy around the world. However, a thorough understanding of the reason why VR is effective and what effect it has on the human psyche is still missing. Most research on this subject is related to the concept of presence. This paper gives an up-to-date overview of research in this diverse field. It starts with the most prevailing definitions and theories on presence, most of which attribute special roles for the mental process of attention and for mental models of the virtual space. A review of the phenomena thought to be effected by presence shows that there is still a strong need for research on this subject because little conclusive evidence exists regarding the relationship between presence and phenoma such as emotional responses to virtual stimuli. An investigation shows there has been substantial research for developing methods for measuring presence and research regarding factors that contribute to presence. Knowledge of these contributing factors can play a vital role in development of new VR applications, but key knowledge elements in this area are still missing. 183

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Section: Subjective Measures: Questionnairesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on Presence in Virtual Reality: A Survey

Schuemie

Straaten

Krijn

et al. 2001

CyberPsychology & Behavior

741

358

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Questionnaires measuring virtual presence are sometimes fairly simple. For example, Towell and Towell 46 use only a single 5-point Likert-scale item: "I feel a sense of actually being in same room with others when I am connected to a MOO." In the same vein, we have developed a social presence scale.…”

Section: Relationships Between Sociability Social Presence and Socimentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining Sociability, Social Space, and Social Presence in (A)synchronous Collaborative Groups

Kreijns

Kirschner

Jochems

et al. 2004

CyberPsychology & Behavior

176

121

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The effectiveness of group learning in asynchronous distributed learning groups depends on the social interaction that takes place. This social interaction affects both cognitive and socioemotional processes that take place during learning, group forming, establishment of group structures, and group dynamics. Though now known to be important, this aspect is often ignored, denied or forgotten by educators and researchers who tend to concentrate on cognitive processes and on-task contexts. This "one-sided" educational focus largely determines the set of requirements in the design of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments resulting in functional CSCL environments. In contrast, our research is aimed at the design and implementation of sociable CSCL environments which may increase the likelihood that a sound social space will emerge. We use a theoretical framework that is based upon an ecological approach to social interaction, centering on the concept of social affordances, the concept of the sociability of CSCL environments, and social presence theory. The hypothesis is that the higher the sociability, the more likely that social interaction will take place or will increase, and the more likely that this will result in an emerging sound social space. In the present research, the variables of interest are sociability, social space, and social presence. This study deals with the construction and validation of three instruments to determine sociability, social space, and social presence in (a)synchronous collaborating groups. The findings suggest that the instruments have potential to be useful as measures for the respective variables. However, it must be realized that these measures are "first steps."

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“…This may also explain how it is possible to speak of a sense of presence in text-based virtual environments, commonly called MUDs (multi-user dungeon dimensions). Although these environments are poor from the sensory viewpoint, recent research on 207 MUD users showed that 69% of the subjects did feel a sense of presence [28].…”

Section: Building a Common Ground For Participants To Communicate In Vementioning

confidence: 99%

The need for a socio-cultural perspective in the implementation of virtual environments

Riva

Mantovani

2000

Virtual Reality

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For many researchers, virtual reality (VN) is first of all a technology. This vision is also well reflected in the growing research work concerned with virtual environments: most of it has been addressed primarily the development of new rendering technologies rather than the highly interactive and dynamic nature of user-system interaction that VR supports. However, this focus on technology is disappointing for developers and researchers. To overcome this limitation, this paper describes VR as an advanced communication too[: a communication interface in single-user VR, and a communication medium in the case of multi-user VR. This leads us to propose a cultural concept of presence as a social construction. Lying at the base of this view are two elements that guarantee an elevated sense of presence: a cultural framework and the possibility of negotiation, both of actions and of their meaning. Within this view, experiencing presence and telepresence does not depend so much on the faithfulness of the reproduction of 'physical' aspects of 'external reality' as on the capacity of simulation to produce a context in which social actors may communicate and cooperate. The consequences of this approach for the design and the development of VR systems are presented.The first author is responsible for the preparation of Section 3. The second author prepared Section 2. Introduction and Conclusions were prepared by both authors. Moreover, to both authors must be attributed the definition of contents and the final structure of the paper.

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Presence in Text-Based Networked Virtual Environments or “MUDS”

Cited by 52 publications

References 14 publications

Research on Presence in Virtual Reality: A Survey

Research on Presence in Virtual Reality: A Survey

Determining Sociability, Social Space, and Social Presence in (A)synchronous Collaborative Groups

The need for a socio-cultural perspective in the implementation of virtual environments

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