Action Units: Directorial Cues for Immersive Storytelling in Swivel-chair Virtual Reality

The use of 360-degree videos has been increasing in the past years. However key challenges, such as how to guide viewer’s attention without limiting free exploration, has also emerged. In this paper we proposed the notion of Action Units (AUs), composed of social cues, aimed to improve the user experience of the 360-degree video-based immersive storytelling platform that a viewer uses while seating in a swivel chair, namely “Swivel-chair VR”. We then evaluated AUs against other two commonly use techniques, by comparing their effects on memory, engagement, enjoyment, cybersickness, and behaviors of searching and attention. The results indicate that when used, AUs helped to increase the levels of engagement and enjoyment, reduce the search time of targets and the level of cybersickness. It is also preferred by users for its diegetic aspects.