Mixed Reality Collaboration: How Expert Representations Shape User Experiences

Remote assistance has become integral in today’s work environments, enabling offsite experts to guide team members in need of assistance. One technology that has gained momentum is mixed reality (MR), combining virtual and augmented reality elements, bridging physical distances, and facilitating knowledge sharing. One critical area is the representation of remote experts. Understanding how different representations influence the learning process is essential for improving the shared experience. Effective representation can enhance communication, trust, and the perceived expertise of the remote expert, thereby improving the learning and collaboration experiences. This study focuses on evaluating how different representations affect various dimensions of collaboration. The study involved 57 participants and examined six different conditions: no visual representation, representation using emojis, representation using a cartoon avatar, representation using a robot avatar, representation using a realistic avatar, and live stream using video.