The role of posture in the communication of affect in an immersive virtual environment

Abstract

This paper presents an experiment that investigates the importance of nonverbal behavioral cues when designing affective virtual characters for an immersive virtual environment (IVE).Forty-nine participants were each instructed to explore a virtual environment by asking two virtual characters for instructions in a CAVE™-like system. The underlying emotional state of the virtual characters was depicted through the use of nonverbal behavioral cues. We focus on two types of behavioral cues (facial expressions and posture) and two emotional states (Angry and Sad).The results indicate that posture plays an important role in the communication of affect by virtual characters in the case when the state portrayed is 'anger', but not when it is 'sad'. We conclude by discussing the importance of designing holistically congruent virtual characters especially under immersive settings.

Simple Guidelines for Testing VR Applications

“…We have researched and analyzed the state of the art in evaluations connected to VR in some of our previous work, (Koeffel, 2007;Koeffel, 2008). In particular, more than 30 representative literature works concerned with evaluation of VR displays have been analyzed, and 15 of them have been chosen for a deeper study (Bayyari & Tudoreanu, 2006;Christou et al, 2006;Cliburn & Krantz, 2008;Demiralp et al, 2006;Elmqvist & Tudoreanu, 2006;Fink et al, 2004;McMahan et al, 2006;Ni et al, 2006;Patel et al, 2006;Qi et al, 2006;Sutcliffe et al, 2006;Takatalo et al, 2008;Vinayagamoorthy et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2006;Wilcox et al, 2006). The analyzed papers represent a determined cross-section of the mostly treated areas in VR and are related to the analysis of different visual display technologies in VR applications.…”

“…The performance and usability of different 3D interaction devices is investigated by Patel et al . The importance of posture and facial expressions of virtual characters in virtual environments is explored by Vinayagamoorthy et al (Vinayagamoorthy et al, 2006). Wilcox et al evaluate whether or not people perceive a violation of their interpersonal space when using VR (Wilcox et al, 2006).…”

“…These are: 1. Navigation (Bayyari & Tudoreanu, 2006;Cliburn & Krantz, 2008 ;Fink et al, 2007;Ni et al, 2006;Patel et al, 2006;Takatalo et al, 2008, Vinayagamoorthy et al, 2006Wang et al, 2006). 2.…”

“…3. Counting (Bayyari & Tudoreanu, 2006;Elmqvist et al, 2006;Qi et al, 2006;Vinayagamoorthy et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2006). Among other tasks completed less frequently by the participants: estimation, prediction, search and observation.…”

Male Bodily Responses during an Interaction with a Virtual Woman

“…Bailenson et al observed the behaviour of participants towards a virtual character and found that they have showed greater hesitation in approaching the character which was with more human like movement [2]. Vinayagamoorthy et al suggested that participants tended to adopt a socially-acceptable spatial be-haviour with virtual characters in immersive system [15]. Krämer assessed the verbal responses towards different interface and found that, when confronted with a virtual agent, the participants adopt more natural speech [6].…”