Tap into Reality: Understanding the Impact of Interactions on Presence and Reaction Time in Mixed Reality

2024-11-08

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This study investigates the synergistic effects of direct versus symbolic interaction on presence and reaction time in mixed reality (MR), and their underlying relationship. A within-subjects experiment with 50 participants integrated subjective presence assessments (IPQ) and objective reaction time measurements. Results reveal, for the first time, that interaction type significantly moderates the presence–reaction time relationship: presence and reaction time are significantly negatively correlated (r = −0.54, p < 0.001). This finding establishes a quantifiable cognitive load–presence mapping benchmark, enabling objective presence evaluation beyond subjective self-report. It empirically validates the trade-off between high presence and moderate cognitive resource expenditure—a critical principle for MR interaction design. The work thus contributes both methodologically—by bridging subjective and objective presence metrics—and practically—by informing human–computer interaction paradigms in MR systems.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Social Cognition And Interaction
• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Practical large-scale studies of user experience
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

Enhancing presence in mixed reality (MR) relies on precise measurement and quantification. While presence has traditionally been measured through subjective questionnaires, recent research links presence with objective metrics like reaction time. Past studies examined this correlation with varying technical factors (object realism and behavior) and human conditioning, but the impact of interaction remains unclear. To answer this question, we conducted a within-subjects study (N=50) to explore the correlation between presence and reaction time across two interaction scenarios (direct and symbolic) with two tasks (selection and manipulation). We found that presence scores and reaction times are correlated (correlation coefficient of $-0.54$), suggesting that the impact of interaction on reaction time correlates with its effect on presence.

Problem

• Impact of interaction on presence
• Correlation between presence and reaction time
• Mixed reality interaction scenarios

Innovation

• Mixed Reality interaction analysis
• Objective presence measurement
• Correlation reaction time presence