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Impact of Avatar Representation in a Virtual Reality-Based Multi-user Tunnel Fire Simulator for Training Purposes

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Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (VISIGRAPP 2021)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1691))

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is playing an increasingly important role in the field of training. The emergency domain, in particular, can benefit from various advantages of VR with respect to traditional training approaches. One of the most promising features of VR-based training is the possibility to share the virtual experience with other users. In multi-user training scenarios, the trainees have to be provided with a proper representation of both the other peers and themselves, with the aim of fostering mutual awareness, communication and cooperation. Various techniques for representing avatars in VR have been proposed in the scientific literature and employed in commercial applications. However, the impact of these techniques when deployed to multi-user scenarios for emergency training has not been extensively explored yet. In this work, two techniques for avatar representation in VR, i.e., no avatar (VR Kit only) and Full-Body reconstruction (blending of inverse kinematics and animations), are compared in the context of emergency training. Experiments were carried out in a training scenario simulating a road tunnel fire. The participants were requested to collaborate with a partner (controlled by an experimenter) to cope with the emergency, and aspects concerning perceived embodiment, immersion, and social presence were investigated.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    SteamVR Home: https://store.steampowered.com/app/250820/SteamVR/.

  2. 2.

    Oculus First Steps: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/1863547050392688.

  3. 3.

    Dead and Buried: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1198491230176054/.

  4. 4.

    VRChat: https://hello.vrchat.com/.

  5. 5.

    https://www.pitem-risk.eu/progetti/risk-for.

  6. 6.

    Dissonance Voice Chat: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/audio/dissonance-voice-chat-70078.

  7. 7.

    Vive wand controller: https://www.vive.com/eu/accessory/controller/.

  8. 8.

    https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/animation/final-ik-14290.

  9. 9.

    HTC Vive Pro: https://www.vive.com/eu/product/vive-pro/.

  10. 10.

    http://tiny.cc/zmnnuz.

  11. 11.

    http://tiny.cc/1nnnuz.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been carried out in the frame of the VR@POLITO initiative.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Politecnico di Torino, 10129, Turin, Italy

    Davide Calandra, Filippo Gabriele Pratticò, Gianmario Lupini & Fabrizio Lamberti

Authors
  1. Davide Calandra
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  2. Filippo Gabriele Pratticò
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  3. Gianmario Lupini
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  4. Fabrizio Lamberti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Davide Calandra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    A. Augusto de Sousa

  2. Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Vlastimil Havran

  3. Mines ParisTech, Paris, France

    Alexis Paljic

  4. Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA

    Tabitha Peck

  5. French Civil Aviation University (ENAC), Toulouse, France

    Christophe Hurter

  6. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Helen Purchase

  7. University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Giovanni Maria Farinella

  8. University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Petia Radeva

  9. IRISA, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France

    Kadi Bouatouch

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Calandra, D., Pratticò, F.G., Lupini, G., Lamberti, F. (2023). Impact of Avatar Representation in a Virtual Reality-Based Multi-user Tunnel Fire Simulator for Training Purposes. In: de Sousa, A.A., et al. Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications. VISIGRAPP 2021. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1691. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25477-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25477-2_1

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