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Virtual reality could help make therapy easier

New research shows many people are more comfortable speaking to an avatar than a real person

Date:
January 5, 2022
Source:
Edith Cowan University
Summary:
A new study has found 30 per cent of people prefer to talk about their negative experiences with a virtual reality avatar, rather than a person.
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FULL STORY

If you find opening up to a therapist too daunting, new research shows you're not alone -- and you might soon have a new option.

The Edith Cowan University (ECU) study found 30 per cent of people prefer to talk about negative experiences with a virtual reality avatar, rather than a person.

Researchers compared social interactions where people engaged in VR conversation versus face-to-face.

They used full face and body motion capture technology to create a 'realistic motion avatar' that closely mimicked their real-life counterpart, then analysed how people interacted with avatars compared to people.

Psychology and communication researcher Dr Shane Rogers said participants rated their experience on factors such as enjoyment, perceived understanding, comfort, awkwardness and extent that they felt they disclosed information about themselves.

“整体的人认为虚拟现实社会互动sim卡ilar to face-to-face interaction, with the exception of closeness, where people tended to feel a little closer with each other when face-to-face," Dr Rogers said.

While VR technology has been around for some time, Dr Rogers said this study suggested that using motion capture to enhance VR could catapult it into our everyday lives.

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"This technology has the potential for broad application across a number of areas such as casual conversation, business, tourism, education and therapy," Dr Rogers said.

"The study found that 30 per cent of people preferred disclosing negative experiences via VR. This means that therapy might be opened up to new people who don't feel comfortable with traditional face-to-face interactions.

"It might also enable therapists to conduct therapy more effectively at a distance, as a person can be in the therapist room (in virtual reality) while seated in their own home."

Dr Rogers said he expected in the next five years VR social interaction would become commonplace, rather than niche.

"More powerful computers are becoming more affordable, VR headsets and peripherals are continuing to develop, and more user-friendly VR interaction software platforms are becoming available and being updated," he said.

下一步研究的皮毛ther investigate how aspects of the avatar (fidelity of motion and graphics) impact user experience, as well as further investigation of the potential of VR for therapeutic settings.

Story Source:

Materialsprovided byEdith Cowan University.Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Shane L. Rogers, Rebecca Broadbent, Jemma Brown, Alan Fraser, Craig P. Speelman.Realistic Motion Avatars are the Future for Social Interaction in Virtual Reality.Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2022; 2 DOI:10.3389/frvir.2021.750729

Cite This Page:

Edith Cowan University. "Virtual reality could help make therapy easier: New research shows many people are more comfortable speaking to an avatar than a real person." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 January 2022. /releases/2022/01/220105111424.htm>.
Edith Cowan University. (2022, January 5). Virtual reality could help make therapy easier: New research shows many people are more comfortable speaking to an avatar than a real person.ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 21, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/01/220105111424.htm
Edith Cowan University. "Virtual reality could help make therapy easier: New research shows many people are more comfortable speaking to an avatar than a real person." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2022/01/220105111424.htm (accessed August 21, 2023).

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