Virtual world users evaluated according to environment design, task based and affective attention measures

This paper presents research that engages with virtual worlds for education users to understand design of these applications for their needs. An in-depth multi-method investigation from 12 virtual worlds participants was undertaken in three stages; initially a small scale within-subjects eye-tracking comparison was made between the role playing game `RuneScape' and the virtual social world `Second Life', secondly an in-depth evaluation of eye-tracking data for Second Life tasks (i.e. avatar, object and world based) was conducted, finally a qualitative evaluation of Second Life tutorials in comparative 3D situations (i.e. environments that are; realistic to surreal, enclosed to open, formal to informal) was conducted. Initial findings identified increased users attention within comparable gaming and social world interactions. Further analysis identified that 3D world focused interactions increased participants' attention more than object and avatar tasks. Finally differe...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: BCSHCI
• Authors: Breen Sweeney, Anne Adams
• Keywords: BCSHCI 2009, Human Computer Interaction, Second Life, Social World, Virtual World