Realtime Data Collection and Analysis Framework for Collaboration and Co-presence in a Virtual Reality Environment

Title: Realtime Data Collection and Analysis Framework for Collaboration and Co-presence in a Virtual Reality Environment

Abstract:

As VR technologies continue to evolve and gain popularity, one of their most notable features is connecting with the virtual presence of a person who is not physically present. Understanding the dynamics of user interaction within these environments is crucial, as they can be utilized in various ways, including collaboration, communication, social interactions, or games and entertainment. This paper presents a method for measuring collaboration and co-presence factors of users by developing a real-time data collection and analysis framework. The designed framework focuses on different collaboration and co-presence scenarios and evaluates a comprehensive system for monitoring and analyzing user interactions in VR, employing both physiological sensors and subjective feedback to assess the sense of presence, co-presence, and collaboration quality. Through an extensive literature review, the paper studies how various factors, including avatar realism and communication modalities, influence user engagement and interaction efficacy. The experiment framework’s capability to integrate qualitative and quantitative data provides a deeper understanding of the immersive experience and its impact on collaborative tasks. The results highlight the importance of design choices in VR environments and their implications for human-computer interaction, user performance, and satisfaction. The findings offer practical guidance for developing more effective VR systems for collaborative work and social interaction.

Data Description:

1. User Interaction Logs:

   - Data Type: Quantitative

   - Description: Timestamped logs of user actions and interactions within the VR environment, including movement data, interaction with objects, and communication instances.

   - Format: CSV

   - Variables: User ID, Timestamp, Action Type, Object Interacted, Coordinates, Duration

2. Physiological Sensor Data:

   - Data Type: Quantitative

   - Description: Real-time physiological data collected from users during VR sessions, including heart rate, skin conductance, and EEG data.

   - Format: CSV,

   - Variables: User ID, Timestamp, Heart Rate, Skin Conductance, EEG Channels

3. Avatar Realism and Communication Modalities Data:

   - Data Type: Quantitative

   - Description: Data evaluating the impact of avatar realism and communication methods (e.g., voice chat, text chat) on user engagement and interaction efficacy.

   - Format: CSV, Text

   - Variables: User ID, Avatar Type, Communication Modality, Engagement Score, Interaction Quality Feedback

4. Collaboration and Co-presence Metrics:

   - Data Type: Quantitative

   - Description: Calculated metrics for collaboration efficiency and co-presence, derived from interaction logs and physiological data.

   - Format: CSV

   - Variables: User ID, Collaboration Efficiency Score, Co-presence Score, Task Performance