Amplification of co-presence in group visits to virtual houses with graphical representations from video games

Abstract

An individual can observe one’s surrounding space. The space can contain various elements (e.g., objects, furniture), which in turn convey visual information to the individual, giving the sense of being present within the space. The space can be filled by additional individuals who also aim to observe their surroundings. The human ability to observe and interact with the surrounding elements plays a vital role in creating a feeling of being socially present and connected in a physical space, also know as co-presence. In the virtual world, similar sensations of co-presence are often conveyed through graphical representations. These representations, along with other methods aimed at enhancing co-presence (such as interfaces designed to foster a sense of shared presence), have been extensively researched and utilized in single player and multiplayer video games. The present study explores the application of some of those strategies to enhance the feeling of co-presence among individuals during virtual group house tours, which is a relevant application scenario to the real estate industry and architectural participatory design. To this aim, a tool was developed and evaluated in a user study involving 33 participants. The findings indicate that all the implemented strategies effectively enhance the sense of co-presence within the virtual environment and encourage meaningful collaborative interactions.