作成者: Since the mid-2010s, social virtual reality (VR) has grown to millions of global users and has become an emerging digital context for collaboration, work, education, and play. This highly immersive medium enables users to connect within shared virtual scenes and interact via customizable, embodied avatars that synchronize with bodily movements. These digital representations allow self-expression through appearances that may reflect and diverge from physical identities. However, the nature of this representation carries notable psychological and behavioral implications for users. Cyan DeVeaux will explore both foundational research and her research examining how avatar representation can shape user experience within social VR. Drawing from lab studies, field studies, and virtual ethnographic research, she will discuss:
- How users curate their virtual appearances.
- The diverse ways they perceive and feel toward their avatars.
- The consequences of this representation in relation to the physical self within this immersive medium.
Cyan will explore the affordances of different types of avatars and what happens when users aim for authentic self-representation in VR but fall short, offering insights into design implications for social VR platforms. Her work spans social interaction, education, and performance.
Cyan DeVeaux is a Communication PhD Candidate and Computer Science MS Student at Stanford University. As a member of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab and Human-Computer Interaction Group, her research focuses on immersive technologies for enriching and inclusive human experiences. She builds and studies AR/MR/VR systems with applications in education, creativity, and digital self-representation. In addition to examining the psychological, behavioral, and social implications of these technologies, her work aims to offer design implications for immersive interfaces.
