Investigation of the Impact of Avatar Behavior on Personal Space Preferences in Virtual Reality (VR)

This study examines the impact of avatar behavior on personal space preferences in virtual reality (VR) environments. Personal space is a critical aspect of social interactions, influenced by cultural norms and individual comfort levels. The research aims to understand how avatars’ actions affect users’ sense of comfort in VR, which can enhance the design of socially interactive applications. During the experiment, participants’ behavioral and physiological responses were assessed as they interacted with three types of avatars (Man, Woman, and Robot) performing various actions. The findings revealed significant differences in discomfort ratings based on avatar type and actions, with the Robot avatar perceived as the most neutral, and the Man avatar generally causing higher discomfort. However, the physiological data, specifically the ratio of low-frequency (LF) to high-frequency (HF) components of HRV, indicated no significant differences among avatar types or actions. Additionally, no correlation was found between the discomfort rating scale and the LF/HF ratio. This lack of the correlation and the significant physiological results might be due to the short duration of each trial, which may have been insufficient to capture noticeable physiological changes. In conclusion, the results highlight the importance of considering avatar design and behavior in VR to improve user experience by aligning with personal space expectations. Future research should explore additional demographic factors, such as gender balance, cultural differences and further investigate the influence of avatar interactions on personal space perception in VR settings.