Abstract
It is known that through the Proteus Effect, the visual characteristics of Avatars inVirtual Reality programs can influence the behavior of users. Previous studies have
shown that avatars with visible sweat decrease perceived exertion and increase perceived
endurance when riding an exercise bike in VR. We sought to expand on these findings
by making the sweaty avatars more visibly exhausted via heavy breathing animations
as well as getting more quantitative measurements on users, rather than just their
perceptions, in particular VO2 max. Thus, for this thesis we conducted a study to
explore the effects that exhausted avatars have on performance during physical tasks. We
found that embodying an exhausted avatar improves VO2 max and increased perceived
exertion during low intensity exercise. Furthering understanding of the Proteus Effect
could lead to more immersive and effective exergames and fitness applications.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English (American) |
| Supervisor | Martin Kocur (Supervisor) |