Introduction to Virtual Reality Collaboration
The early adopters of mass-market virtual reality headsets are working together to display their art, organize work meetings, record their favorite DJ sets, and play a bunch of games starting from paintball and dodgeball to flee rooms and obstacle courses. This phenomenon has been studied by researchers in Clemson University’s School of Computing, who’ve gained an in depth glimpse into how persons are collaborating in virtual reality.
The Study’s Findings
The researchers’ award-winning study found that individuals were using virtual reality to work together on activities that varied from art and gaming to homework and coding. Guo Freeman, an assistant professor who led the research, said the team found that the best way people collaborate in virtual reality may be very just like what they do nose to nose. The team based its findings on voice and text interviews conducted on Discord, Skype, and Google Hangouts with 30 virtual reality users who engaged with several platforms, including Rec Room, VRChat, and High Fidelity.
The Power of Virtual Reality
Virtual reality typically requires users to placed on a headset that immerses them within the experience with unique features, including voice communication, full-body tracking, and 360-degree panoramic views of the virtual world. Users described VR as powerful, mind-blowing, and eye-opening and said they would like to experience it with other participants than alone. The School of Computing study reflected the immersive power of the technology and the importance of collaboration to benefit from it.
A Close-Knit Community
The team found a close-knit virtual reality community that was quick to adopt the technology, was keen about it, and was wanting to usher in latest members. Freeman was impressed with how creative some users were with the technology. Some, for instance, created art in virtual reality, while others made real-world art after which built virtual-reality galleries to display it. This creativity and collaboration have the potential to rework how people create things and share their creativity with others.
Real-World Applications
Some virtual reality users told the team they collaborated on homework not only with friends but additionally with strangers. It happened naturally and regularly, the users said. One VR user told the team, “I’ve helped people from different countries with their homework, and they’ll help me with my homework. […] I used to be helping some individuals with math, and someone from Japan was helping me with my Japanese.” This form of collaboration has the potential to interrupt down geographical barriers and produce people together from all around the world.
Conclusion
The study’s findings have significant implications for the long run of virtual reality and its potential to rework how we work, learn, and play. As Freeman said, “People at all times wish to get connected with others, and that is one other way for people to construct relationships.” The research has won a Best Paper Honorable Mention Award on the ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work, and it is evident that virtual reality is greater than only a game – it’s a strong tool for collaboration and social interaction. With its potential to create a way of presence and engagement, virtual reality is prone to play an increasingly essential role in our lives within the years to come back.
