Multiuser Usability of Collaborative Virtual Environments
Abstract
Collaborative virtual environments (VEs) require suitable interaction models for resolving conflicts and promoting multiuser usability. An interaction model is a key component of a collaborative VE. Traditional models such as the first-come-first-serve (FCFS) model have a problem of disregarding the vital socio-human need of equality in interaction (i.e., EII). This problem may impair the suitability of a model. Other components of a collaborative VE, including interaction devices and communication cues, may also affect the suitability of a model. Common cues are verbal and vibrotactile cues. Traditional usability studies on collaborative VEs suffer from several shortcomings. First, a set of multiuser usability metrics are not defined to consider socio-human needs and cover all possible usability factors presented by recent international standards. Secondly, suitable models to address these needs have not been sufficiently investigated. Finally, there have been a lack of studies that investigate the role of devices and cues on the suitability of models. To address these shortcomings, this thesis proposes a framework of multiuser usability for assessing collaborative VEs. The proposed framework consolidates socio-human needs and standard factors of usability. Moreover, a dynamic priority (DP) model that considers the vital need of EII is proposed to address the shortcomings of traditional models. The proposed DP model grants interaction opportunities to users based on the recency of their gained accesses. Investigations under the proposed framework indicated that compared to the FCFS model, the DP model yields perceived EII independent of devices and significantly improves the multiuser usability. The DP model also yields perceived EII regardless of cues. However, a combination of verbal and vibrotactile cues significantly promotes the multiuser usability of a VE governed by the DP model. These results imply the suitability of the DP model as well as combined verbal and vibrotactile cues to promote the multiuser usability within VEs.
Description
Keywords
Computer Science, Engineering--Electronics and Electrical
Citation
Erfanian, A. (2017). Multiuser Usability of Collaborative Virtual Environments (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27042