TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding user experience, task performance, and task interdependence in symmetric and asymmetric VR collaborations
AU - Zhang, Shuhao
AU - Li, Yue
AU - Man, Ka Lok
AU - Smith, Jeremy S.
AU - Yue, Yong
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2025/3
Y1 - 2025/3
N2 - Asymmetric collaboration is an important topic for the research of multiuser collaborative systems. Previous works have shown that by providing different abilities, devices or content to different users, users can take advantage of the unique features of each side and collaborate effectively with each other. However, there is limited work comparing the differences between asymmetric and symmetric Virtual Reality (VR) collaboration systems. How task complexity may affect symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration is also unclear. In this paper, we present a comparative study that investigated how user experiences and task performance vary in symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration. In addition, we also explored how task interdependence correlates with user experience and task performance. Participants were asked to collaboratively perform 3D object selection and manipulation tasks in pairs. A within-subjects study was conducted, where participants used PC and PC, VR and VR, and PC and VR, respectively in three conditions. Our results revealed that the asymmetric collaboration using both PC and VR showed the best results in closeness of relationship, social presence and task performance; the PC symmetric collaborative system showed the worst user experiences and task performance. Both user experience and task performance showed a positive correlation with task interdependence. We discussed the effects of the collaborativ mode and device on the user experience and task performance, and the implications for future symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration systems.
AB - Asymmetric collaboration is an important topic for the research of multiuser collaborative systems. Previous works have shown that by providing different abilities, devices or content to different users, users can take advantage of the unique features of each side and collaborate effectively with each other. However, there is limited work comparing the differences between asymmetric and symmetric Virtual Reality (VR) collaboration systems. How task complexity may affect symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration is also unclear. In this paper, we present a comparative study that investigated how user experiences and task performance vary in symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration. In addition, we also explored how task interdependence correlates with user experience and task performance. Participants were asked to collaboratively perform 3D object selection and manipulation tasks in pairs. A within-subjects study was conducted, where participants used PC and PC, VR and VR, and PC and VR, respectively in three conditions. Our results revealed that the asymmetric collaboration using both PC and VR showed the best results in closeness of relationship, social presence and task performance; the PC symmetric collaborative system showed the worst user experiences and task performance. Both user experience and task performance showed a positive correlation with task interdependence. We discussed the effects of the collaborativ mode and device on the user experience and task performance, and the implications for future symmetric and asymmetric VR collaboration systems.
KW - Asymmetric collaborations in VR
KW - Selection and manipulation
KW - Symmetric collaboration in VR
KW - Task interdependence
KW - Virtual reality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211353372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10055-024-01072-2
DO - 10.1007/s10055-024-01072-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85211353372
SN - 1359-4338
VL - 29
JO - Virtual Reality
JF - Virtual Reality
IS - 1
M1 - 6
ER -