An embodied virtual communication system for three human interaction support and analysis by synthesis

An embodied virtual face-to-face communication system is developed for three human interaction supports and the analysis by synthesis. The system provides networked virtual communication environment in which three remote talkers can share embodied interactions by observing their interaction of avatars called VirtualActors including themselves in the same virtual space. The effectiveness of the system is demonstrated by the sensory evaluation of the communication experiment and selected most favorite viewpoint when talker's own VA was semitransparently presented in 8 groups, 3 talkers per group. The importance of mutual embodied sharing in communication is also clarified. The system would be expected to form the foundation of group embodied interaction support system as well as the analysis and understanding of group embodied interaction.