Virtual Reality Collaboration - Using current virtual reality technology for long distance collaboration and meetings

Abstract

During the course of this project is a prototype for a collaborative VR environment for the Vive was created, tentatively named IVR-Connection. Qualitative tests using this prototype was concluded in order to ascertain whether users feel this sort of technology have potential as a collaborative platform compared to voice call services such as Skype or Discord. An experiment designed to get data on the systems capabilities as a collaborative platform with co-presence and presence. Users were asked to solve a simple puzzle in Virtual reality, in real life and using an audio chat client in order to compare levels of perceived collaboration, co-presence and presence.

Overall the results shows a large degree of presence in the VR environment. Feedback and observations from evaluations and experiment indicates that users get a significant sense of co-presence and enjoyment related to collaboration while solving specific tasks in IVR-connection comparable to solving similar tasks in real life.