An evaluation of self-avatar eye movement for virtual embodiment

Area of Science:

• Virtual Reality
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Computer Graphics

Background:

• Virtual embodiment relies on self-avatars reflecting user actions.
• Current self-avatar tracking often omits eye movements, potentially weakening the sense of body ownership.
• Accurate avatar eye movement simulation is crucial for immersive virtual experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel technique for animating self-avatar eye movements in virtual environments without specialized eye-tracking hardware.
• To compare the effectiveness of simulated eye movements against no eye movements and real eye-tracking in enhancing virtual embodiment.
• To determine if simulated eye movements can improve self-identification with a virtual avatar.

Main Methods:

• A novel technique for simulating avatar eye movements without eye-tracking hardware was developed.
• A two-alternative, forced-choice-with-confidence experiment was conducted.
• Participants experienced three conditions: simulated eye-tracking, no eye-tracking, and real eye-tracking.

Main Results:

• Participants could distinguish between different eye movement conditions, preferring simulated and real eye-tracking over no eye-tracking.
• No statistically significant difference was found between the simulated and real eye-tracking conditions.
• The simulated eye-tracking condition improved the representation of participant behavior compared to the no-eye-tracking condition.

Conclusions:

• Simulated self-avatar eye movements enhance the subjective sense of self-identification and virtual embodiment.
• Effective avatar eye animation can be achieved without specialized eye-tracking hardware, making it more accessible.
• This technique offers a cost-effective solution for improving user presence and immersion in virtual environments.