WeRSort: Preliminary Results from a New Method of Remote Collaboration Facilitated by Fully Immersive Virtual Reality

Fully immersive virtual reality, with the unique ability to replicate the real world, could potentially aid in real-time communication. Geographically separated teams can collaborate using virtual reality. To test the viability of using virtual reality for remote collaboration, we designed a system called “WeRSort” where teams sorted cards in a virtual environment. Participants performed the task as a team of 2 in one of three conditions-controls-only condition, generic embodiment and full embodiment. Objective measures of performance, time and percentage match with master cards showed no significant difference. Subjective measures of presence and system usability also showed no statistical significance. However, overall work-load obtained from NASA-TLX showed that fully immersive virtual reality resulted in lower workload in comparison with the other two. Qualitative data was collected and analyzed to understand collaboration using the awareness evaluation model.

[1]  S. Hart,et al.  Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research , 1988 .

[2]  Reyes Juárez-Ramírez.  User-centered design and adaptive systems: toward improving usability and accessibility , 2016, Universal Access in the Information Society.

[3]  Conrad S. Tucker,et al.  Investigating the Impact of Interactive Immersive Virtual Reality Environments in Enhancing Task Performance in Online Engineering Design Activities , 2015 .

[4]  Sruthy Agnisarman,et al.  Designing Home-Based Telemedicine Systems for the Geriatric Population: An Empirical Study. , 2017, Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.

[5]  James R. Lewis,et al.  IBM computer usability satisfaction questionnaires: Psychometric evaluation and instructions for use , 1995, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[6]  Kapil Chalil Madathil,et al.  Synchronous remote usability testing: a new approach facilitated by virtual worlds , 2011, CHI.

[7]  Kapil Chalil Madathil,et al.  An investigation of the efficacy of collaborative virtual reality systems for moderated remote usability testing. , 2017, Applied ergonomics.

[8]  Mel Slater,et al.  Enhancing Our Lives with Immersive Virtual Reality , 2016, Front. Robot. AI.

[9]  Sruthy Orozhiyathumana Agnisarman,et al.  Lessons learned from the usability assessment of home-based telemedicine systems. , 2017, Applied ergonomics.

[10]  Jonathan Grudin,et al.  Taxonomy and Theory in Computer Supported Cooperative Work , 2012 .

[11]  Yulei Fan,et al.  Collaborative Virtual Environment Technology for People With Autism , 2005, Fifth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT'05).

[12]  Patrick Bourdot,et al.  Remote collaboration across heterogeneous large interactive spaces , 2015, 2015 IEEE Second VR International Workshop on Collaborative Virtual Environments (3DCVE).

[13]  Mary Beth Rosson,et al.  Evaluating computer-supported cooperative work: models and frameworks , 2004, CSCW.

[14]  Kapil Chalil Madathil,et al.  Designing Telemedicine Systems for Geriatric Patients: A Review of the Usability Studies. , 2017, Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.

[15]  Louis B. Rosenfeld,et al.  Information architecture for the world wide web - designing large-scale web sites , 1998 .

[16]  Judy M. Vance,et al.  Industry use of virtual reality in product design and manufacturing: a survey , 2017, Virtual Reality.

[17]  Karl T. Ulrich,et al.  Product Design and Development , 1995 .

[18]  Michael J. Singer,et al.  Measuring Presence in Virtual Environments: A Presence Questionnaire , 1998, Presence.