Presence-dependent performance differences between virtual simulations and miniature worlds

  • Authors:
  • Andre Huthmann

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

  • Venue:
  • SpringSim '09 Proceedings of the 2009 Spring Simulation Multiconference
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

The purpose of simulation is to avoid reality-based constraints by the implementation of a synthetic model. Interactive simulations have conquered all areas of applications like acquisition, training, or research. Anecdotal observations on human-in-the-loop simulations have shown a significant difference in actor behavior between simulations and the actual application. The factors which make simulation so attractive, namely the absence of constraints and especially of imminent danger for persons and equipment, seem to influence the behavior and thereby the performance of the user. The concept of perceiving a simulation as 'real' and of 'being in' the simulation is called 'sense of presence'. It is hypothesized that the application type will affect the perceived sense of presence and will thereby lead to performance differences. The aim of this research is the relationship of presence and performance in real and simulated teleoperation tasks. In teleoperation related training, education, and research, the robot is often replaced by a simulation while keeping the real control elements. Based on the hypothesis that the user behaves and thereby performs differently in simulations, these differences could jeopardize the generalization of such VE-based results. In this research a teleoperation task is used to compare presence and performance between simulation and a miniature-based application.