Real and illusory interactions enhance presence in virtual environments

  • Authors:
  • Holger Regenbrecht;Thomas Schubert

  • Affiliations:
  • DaimlerChrysler AG, Research and Technology 3, FT3/EV, Wilhelm-Runge-Str. 11, P.O. Box 2360, 89013 Ulm, Germany;Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany

  • Venue:
  • Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments - Virtual environments: Virtual environments and mobile robots: Control, simulation, and robot pilot training
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

It has long been argued that the possibility to interact in and with a virtual environment (VE) enhances the sense of presence. On the basis of a three-component model of presence, we specify this hypothesis and argue that the mental representation of possible actions should especially enhance spatial presence, and to a lesser extent the involvement and realness of a VE. We support this hypothesis in three studies. A correlative study showed that self-reported interaction possibilities correlated significantly with spatial presence, but not with the other two factors. A first experimental study showed that possible self-movement significantly increased spatial presence and realness. A second experimental study showed that even the illusion of interaction, with no actual interaction taking place, significantly increased spatial presence.