PRINCIPLES FOR SITUATED ACTIONS IN DESIGNING VIRTUAL REALITIES

Abstract

This thesis presents a theoretical framework for designing virtual realities. Virtual reality systems use new technologies such as stereoscopic headmounted displays, instrumented gloves and six-degree of freedom trackers to increase the bandwidth of communication between the user and computer. They allow the user to interact directly with a three-dimensional, computer simulated world. The user is immersed in virtual reality. It is argued that the sense of immersion is due to the users' situatedness in the virtual reality. Thus a theory of designing virtual realities needs to incorporate the notion of situatedness, from the theory of situated actions. Principles are derived by examining ethnomethodology, the theory behind situated actions. The principles are then used to interpret previous guidelines for virtual reality design. The interpreted guidelines subsume those in the literature. A field study is then used to exemplify the use of the principles and guidelines in a practical situation.