Subjective and behavioral presence measurement and interactivity in the collaborative augmented reality game TimeWarp

Abstract

Presence measurements are traditionally using a variety of subjective and objective measures. However, constraints often result in subjective measurements using questionnaires as a key method of data collection. In this paper we present a study of 44 participants of a collaborative augmented reality game known as TimeWarp which used both subjective and objective behavioral measures where both video recordings and self-reports about feelings of presence were compared. We further investigated the influence of the collaborative nature of the game and of subjectively perceived interactivity on perceived presence. Our findings indicate that pointing behavior and verbal responses to virtual content within an augmented reality scene are correlated negatively to sense of presence. Our results suggest that certain behavioral measures correlate with subjective feelings of presence and can predict the latter in the augmented reality game. With regard to collaborative game play and interactivity on presence we found no influence for collaborative gameplay, however, the interaction possibilities perceived by the participants predicted their experience of social presence with the virtual characters in the game. Implications for presence research are discussed.

Social Presence as a Multi-Dimensional Group Construct in 3D Virtual Environments

“…Although there is still debate on the construct of social presence (Bulu, 2012;Biocca et al, 2003), various measures have been tested and validated. However, real-time assessment of social presence during user interaction has been limited compared with postexperimental research (von der Pütten et al 2012). One exception is a method developed for real-time self-measurement of presence (Freeman, Avons, Pearson, IJsselsteijn, 1999), but such procedures can interfere with the presence experience itself (von der Pütten et al, 2012).…”

“…In addition to self-ratings, scholars have proposed that social presence could be studied via objective, corroborative means, such as physiological or behavioral measures (IJsselsteijn, de Ridder, Freeman, & Avons, 2000;von der Pütten et al, 2012). Physiological measures include, for example, cardiac interbeat intervals (Ravaja et al, 2006), facial electromyography, and respiration (Chanel, Kivikangas, & Ravaja, 2012), which are assessed during interaction.…”

“…Physiological measures include, for example, cardiac interbeat intervals (Ravaja et al, 2006), facial electromyography, and respiration (Chanel, Kivikangas, & Ravaja, 2012), which are assessed during interaction. Behavioral measures include subjects' behavioral responses, such as pointing or body posture, and have rarely been used in studies thus far (von der Pütten et al, 2012). These studies have usually combined the physiological or behavioral responses to self-rated, postexperimental social presence measures.…”

Multimodal Dataset for Assessment of Quality of Experience in Immersive Multimedia

“…Therefore, implicit assessment based on subjects physiological signals is expected to provide additional and less biased information, when compared to explicit assessment. In [21], an objective measure of SoP using behavior or physiological responses is envisioned, nevertheless the authors used only subjective ratings. Electroencephalography (EEG) and peripheral physiological signals including Electrocardiography (ECG) and respiration have been used in various studies to assess the physiological responses to stimuli.…”

Modeling immersive media experiences by sensing impact on subjects

“…A potential, therefore, actual representation of real scenes should provide a threedimensional feeling to enhance sensation of reality through multimedia devices. The importance of sensation of reality has been recognized in the field of games and virtual reality [28,35], through user-system interactions. Also, recent advances in imaging and displays have enabled implementation of more immersive multimedia environments, offering improved sensation of reality to users [9,20].…”