The effects of body position on Reflexive Motor Acts and the sense of presence in virtual environments

• Published in: Computers & graphics 2018-04, Vol.71, p.35-41
• Main Authors: Bessa, Maximino, Melo, Miguel, Augusto de Sousa, A., Vasconcelos-Raposo, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bicycles; Body position; Motor ability; Motors; Movement; Multisensory; Position measurement; Presence; Reflexes; Reflexive Motor Acts; Sensory perception; Sitting position; Virtual communities; Virtual environments; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0097-8493; 1873-7684
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cag.2017.11.003

•Body position influences the users perception of credibility.•The body position has impact on the users sense of presence in virtual environments.•The level of presence felt is correlated with the level of perceived credibility. [Display omitted] The purpose of this study was to measure the subject’s sense of presence while they performed a task (riding a bicycle downhill) in a virtual reality (VR) environment and to compare it by body position (standing vs. sitting) and gender. The sample consisted of 35 subjects (19 male and 16 female) between 17 and 33 years of age. A translated and validated Portuguese version of the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQp) and the Reflexive Motor Acts (RMAs), based on direct observation, were used as metrics. The results showed significant differences between body position at the level of Experienced Realism, Spatial Presence and Overall Sense of Presence. When measuring RMAs, it was demonstrated that people in the sitting position presented a higher frequency. We concluded that body position influences perceptions of credibility, which has an impact on the sense of presence. No differences were identified between the genders.