Ambient clumsiness in virtual environments

Silvia Ruzanka; Katherine Behar

doi:10.1117/12.845705

27 January 2010 Ambient clumsiness in virtual environments

Silvia Ruzanka, Katherine Behar

Proceedings Volume 7525, The Engineering Reality of Virtual Reality 2010; 75250C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.845705
Event: IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging, 2010, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

A fundamental pursuit of Virtual Reality is the experience of a seamless connection between the user's body and actions within the simulation. Virtual worlds often mediate the relationship between the physical and virtual body through creating an idealized representation of the self in an idealized space. This paper argues that the very ubiquity of the medium of virtual environments, such as the massively popular Second Life, has now made them mundane, and that idealized representations are no longer appropriate. In our artwork we introduce the attribute of clumsiness to Second Life by creating and distributing scripts that cause users' avatars to exhibit unpredictable stumbling, tripping, and momentary poor coordination, thus subtly and unexpectedly intervening with, rather than amplifying, a user's intent. These behaviors are publicly distributed, and manifest only occasionally - rather than intentional, conscious actions, they are involuntary and ambient. We suggest that the physical human body is itself an imperfect interface, and that the continued blurring of distinctions between the physical body and virtual representations calls for the introduction of these mundane, clumsy elements.

Citation Download Citation

Silvia Ruzanka and Katherine Behar "Ambient clumsiness in virtual environments", Proc. SPIE 7525, The Engineering Reality of Virtual Reality 2010, 75250C (27 January 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.845705

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available