Tangible Avatar : Enhancing Presence and Embodiment During Seated Virtual Experiences with a Prop-Based Controller

We investigate using a prop to control human-like avatars in virtual environments while remaining seated. We believe that manipulating a tangible interface, capable of rendering physical sensations and reproducing the movements of an avatar, could lead to a greater virtual experience (presence) and strengthen the relationship between users and the avatar (embodiment) compared to other established controllers. We present a controller based on an instrumented artist doll that users can manipulate to move the avatar in virtual environments. We evaluated the influence of such a controller on the sense of presence and the sense of embodiment in 3 perspectives (third-person perspective on a screen, immersive third-person perspective, and immersive first-person perspective in a head-mounted display). We compared the controller with gamepad controllers to control the movements of an avatar in a kick-in-a-ball game as illustration. The results showed that the prop-based controller can increase the sense of presence and fun in all three perspectives. It also enhances the sense of embodiment in the immersive perspectives. It could therefore enhance the user experience in various simulations involving human-like avatars.