Abstract:
In this article, we introduce a concept called “virtual co-embodiment”, which enables a user to share their virtual avatar with another entity (e.g., another user, robot,...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
In this article, we introduce a concept called “virtual co-embodiment”, which enables a user to share their virtual avatar with another entity (e.g., another user, robot, or autonomous agent). We describe a proof-of-concept in which two users can be immersed from a first-person perspective in a virtual environment and can have complementary levels of control (total, partial, or none) over a shared avatar. In addition, we conducted an experiment to investigate the influence of users’ level of control over the shared avatar and prior knowledge of their actions on the users’ sense of agency and motor actions. The results showed that participants are good at estimating their real level of control but significantly overestimate their sense of agency when they can anticipate the motion of the avatar. Moreover, participants performed similar body motions regardless of their real control over the avatar. The results also revealed that the internal dimension of the locus of control, which is a personality trait, is negatively correlated with the user’s perceived level of control. The combined results unfold a new range of applications in the fields of virtual-reality-based training and collaborative teleoperation, where users would be able to share their virtual body.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics ( Volume: 27, Issue: 10, 01 October 2021)

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Rebecca Fribourg received the graduate degree in computer science from the French National Engineering School, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in Hybrid Team, Inria Rennes, Rennes, France. Her research interests include avatars and virtual embodiment.
Rebecca Fribourg received the graduate degree in computer science from the French National Engineering School, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in Hybrid Team, Inria Rennes, Rennes, France. Her research interests include avatars and virtual embodiment.View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Nami Ogawa received the MASc degree in information studies from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in engineering at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. She contributed to this work during her research intern at Inria Rennes. Her research interests include avatar embodiment and embodied perception.
Nami Ogawa received the MASc degree in information studies from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in engineering at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. She contributed to this work during her research intern at Inria Rennes. Her research interests include avatar embodiment and embodied perception.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Ludovic Hoyet received the PhD degree from INSA Rennes, Rennes, France, in 2010. He is currently a researcher with Inria in the MimeTIC team in Rennes, France, since 2015. He then worked as a research fellow with Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Pr. of Carol O’Sullivan. His research interests include real-time animation and perception of virtual humans.
Ludovic Hoyet received the PhD degree from INSA Rennes, Rennes, France, in 2010. He is currently a researcher with Inria in the MimeTIC team in Rennes, France, since 2015. He then worked as a research fellow with Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Pr. of Carol O’Sullivan. His research interests include real-time animation and perception of virtual humans.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Ferran Argelaguet received the PhD degree from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. He is an Inria research scientist with the Hybrid Team, Rennes, France, since 2016. His main research interests include 3D user interfaces, virtual reality, and human computer interaction. He is currently a program co-chair of the IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces conference track.
Ferran Argelaguet received the PhD degree from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. He is an Inria research scientist with the Hybrid Team, Rennes, France, since 2016. His main research interests include 3D user interfaces, virtual reality, and human computer interaction. He is currently a program co-chair of the IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces conference track.View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Takuji Narumi is currently a lecturer with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. His research interests include perceptual modification and human augmentation with virtual and augmented reality technologies. More recently, as a JST PREST researcher, he is also directing the Ghost Engineering Project which aims at utilizing the effect of virtual body on our mind and cognitive funct...Show More
Takuji Narumi is currently a lecturer with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. His research interests include perceptual modification and human augmentation with virtual and augmented reality technologies. More recently, as a JST PREST researcher, he is also directing the Ghost Engineering Project which aims at utilizing the effect of virtual body on our mind and cognitive funct...View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Michitaka Hirose received the BE, ME, and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1977, 1979, and 1982, respectively. He is a professor of human interface and virtual reality with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. He received the 2015 VGTC Virtual Reality Career Award.
Michitaka Hirose received the BE, ME, and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1977, 1979, and 1982, respectively. He is a professor of human interface and virtual reality with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. He received the 2015 VGTC Virtual Reality Career Award.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Anatole Lécuyer is currently a senior researcher and head of Hybrid Research Team, Inria, French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, Rennes, France. His main research interests include virtual reality, 3D user interfaces, haptic interaction, and brain-computer interfaces. He is currently an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Frontiers in Virtual E...Show More
Anatole Lécuyer is currently a senior researcher and head of Hybrid Research Team, Inria, French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, Rennes, France. His main research interests include virtual reality, 3D user interfaces, haptic interaction, and brain-computer interfaces. He is currently an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Frontiers in Virtual E...View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Rebecca Fribourg received the graduate degree in computer science from the French National Engineering School, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in Hybrid Team, Inria Rennes, Rennes, France. Her research interests include avatars and virtual embodiment.
Rebecca Fribourg received the graduate degree in computer science from the French National Engineering School, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in Hybrid Team, Inria Rennes, Rennes, France. Her research interests include avatars and virtual embodiment.View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Nami Ogawa received the MASc degree in information studies from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in engineering at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. She contributed to this work during her research intern at Inria Rennes. Her research interests include avatar embodiment and embodied perception.
Nami Ogawa received the MASc degree in information studies from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 2017. She is currently working toward the PhD degree in engineering at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. She contributed to this work during her research intern at Inria Rennes. Her research interests include avatar embodiment and embodied perception.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Ludovic Hoyet received the PhD degree from INSA Rennes, Rennes, France, in 2010. He is currently a researcher with Inria in the MimeTIC team in Rennes, France, since 2015. He then worked as a research fellow with Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Pr. of Carol O’Sullivan. His research interests include real-time animation and perception of virtual humans.
Ludovic Hoyet received the PhD degree from INSA Rennes, Rennes, France, in 2010. He is currently a researcher with Inria in the MimeTIC team in Rennes, France, since 2015. He then worked as a research fellow with Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Pr. of Carol O’Sullivan. His research interests include real-time animation and perception of virtual humans.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Ferran Argelaguet received the PhD degree from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. He is an Inria research scientist with the Hybrid Team, Rennes, France, since 2016. His main research interests include 3D user interfaces, virtual reality, and human computer interaction. He is currently a program co-chair of the IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces conference track.
Ferran Argelaguet received the PhD degree from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. He is an Inria research scientist with the Hybrid Team, Rennes, France, since 2016. His main research interests include 3D user interfaces, virtual reality, and human computer interaction. He is currently a program co-chair of the IEEE Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces conference track.View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Takuji Narumi is currently a lecturer with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. His research interests include perceptual modification and human augmentation with virtual and augmented reality technologies. More recently, as a JST PREST researcher, he is also directing the Ghost Engineering Project which aims at utilizing the effect of virtual body on our mind and cognitive functions to encourage better communication between people.
Takuji Narumi is currently a lecturer with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. His research interests include perceptual modification and human augmentation with virtual and augmented reality technologies. More recently, as a JST PREST researcher, he is also directing the Ghost Engineering Project which aims at utilizing the effect of virtual body on our mind and cognitive functions to encourage better communication between people.View more

University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Michitaka Hirose received the BE, ME, and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1977, 1979, and 1982, respectively. He is a professor of human interface and virtual reality with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. He received the 2015 VGTC Virtual Reality Career Award.
Michitaka Hirose received the BE, ME, and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1977, 1979, and 1982, respectively. He is a professor of human interface and virtual reality with the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo. He received the 2015 VGTC Virtual Reality Career Award.View more

Inria, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
Anatole Lécuyer is currently a senior researcher and head of Hybrid Research Team, Inria, French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, Rennes, France. His main research interests include virtual reality, 3D user interfaces, haptic interaction, and brain-computer interfaces. He is currently an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Frontiers in Virtual Environments and “Presence” Journals. He was a program chair of IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (2015-2016) and IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (2012-2013). He obtained the Inria-French Academy of Sciences Young Researcher Prize in 2013.
Anatole Lécuyer is currently a senior researcher and head of Hybrid Research Team, Inria, French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, Rennes, France. His main research interests include virtual reality, 3D user interfaces, haptic interaction, and brain-computer interfaces. He is currently an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Frontiers in Virtual Environments and “Presence” Journals. He was a program chair of IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (2015-2016) and IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (2012-2013). He obtained the Inria-French Academy of Sciences Young Researcher Prize in 2013.View more