Improving Virtual Workspaces Based on Sense of Embodiment

Abstract

Factories and plants increasingly employ virtual reality (VR) for training, focusing on the optimization of workers’ movements based on ergonomics. This study investigates the impact of sense of embodiment (SoE) in a virtual workspace on workers’ task performance to elucidate SoE’s role as a performance measure in such environments. Participants, tasked with assembling an office chair consisting of eight parts using VR controllers, were observed. The results revealed that participants had difficulty perceiving the distance between parts, leading to difficulty in picking up parts. Therefore, it was concluded that the sense of self-location (SoSL) component of SoE influences assembly tasks in virtual workspaces. Additionally, we reveal how differences in SoE affect skill acquisition and subsequent real-word tasks, using brick stacking as an example. SoE was assessed through responses to fourteen questions rated on a 7-point scale. Higher SoE corresponded to faster skill acquisition, with participants displaying increased confidence and focus in the real workspace following high SoE conditions. This study revealed that SoE influences assembly tasks in virtual workspaces. Furthermore, it became evident that training in virtual workspaces with higher SoE leads to smoother operations in real workspaces. Thus, SoE serves as an important metric for task performance.