Synchronous interaction among hundreds: an evaluation of a conference in an avatar-based virtual environment

This paper presents the first in-depth evaluation of a large multi-format virtual conference. The conference took place in an avatar-based 3D virtual world with spatialized audio, and had keynote, poster and social sessions. We studied it by drawing on logs, a survey and interviews with 30 participants. We develop a model – Coalescence, Focused Interaction, Remixing (CoFIRe) – of large synchronous interactions, and use it to discuss how the technology supported, or failed to support, the interactions that are the raison d’etre of conferences. We conclude by discussing the prospects for such large virtual gatherings. Author Keywords CSCW; collaboration, CVE; Second Life; spatialized audio; synchronous interaction; virtual environment; virtual world ACM Classification Keywords H5.3. Information Interfaces and Presentation: Group and Organization Interfaces: Synchronous Interaction. General Terms Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Theory

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Thomas Erickson, N. Sadat Shami, Wendy A. Kellogg, David W. Levine
• Keywords: CHI 2011, Human Computer Interaction, Synchronous Interaction, Virtual Gatherings, World Acm