| KEYWORD |
Area Engineering
Enhancing non-verbal communication in Social VR environments through body movement mimicry
keywords COMPUTER ANIMATION, VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY
Reference persons FABRIZIO LAMBERTI
External reference persons ALESSANDRO VISCONTI
Research Groups GR-09 - GRAphics and INtelligent Systems - GRAINS
Thesis type RESEARCH THESIS
Description Technological advances have significantly changed the way individuals communicate, bridging geographical divides and fostering connections across platforms such as smartphones, social networks and virtual reality (VR). In particular, the emergence of VR technology has responded to the desire for more engaging online interactions, paving the way for social VR platforms. These platforms allow users to create custom avatars and interact with old and new friends in customized virtual environments. Despite the immersive nature of Social VR, there remains a significant gap in non-verbal communication, which is a crucial element in the perspective user experience. In fact, research suggests that non-verbal signals play a vital role in making interactions more engaging and realistic.
Therefore, addressing this gap is key to further enhancing user immersion and presence. In particular, “mimicry”, i.e. the unconscious imitation of communicative patterns, movements and expressions, is a fundamental element of non-verbal communication that has been scarcely explored so far in the context of Social VR. The aim of this thesis is to design, develop and subsequently evaluate through user tests a mimicry algorithm of body movements to improve empathy and socialisation between individuals in a virtual environment. The starting point for the thesis will be a previous work carried out by the GRAINS group on facial mimicry.
See also http://grains.polito.it/work.php
Deadline 15/01/2025
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA