Can Presence Improve Collaboration in 3D Virtual Worlds?

Abstract

Three dimensional (3D) virtual worlds are regarded as possessing strong capabilities to support collaboration between people. The physical characteristics of the virtual environment are pointed out as responsible for that capability because they create immersive environments that we are familiar with, and are able to involve users in such a way that the feeling of being in the world is frequently reported. Presence, the perception of the virtual as if it were real, may be helpful in realizing how an easier to understand environment can improve collaboration. In this paper, based on a literature review, we look into the relationship between presence and collaboration, and the importance of presence to the understanding of collaboration in 3D virtual worlds.