A Survey on Methodological Approaches to Collaborative Embodiment in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This survey reviews a decade of research on collaborative embodiment in virtual reality, analyzing methodologies, effectiveness, challenges, and future directions to improve multi-user immersive interactions.

Contribution

It provides an extensive overview and critical assessment of methodologies for collaborative embodiment in VR, highlighting current challenges and future research opportunities.

Findings

Analysis of 137 research papers using PRISMA guidelines

Identification of key methodologies and their effectiveness

Discussion of challenges and future research directions

Abstract

The application and implementation of collaborative embodiment in virtual reality (VR) are a critical aspect of the computer science landscape, aiming to enhance multi-user interaction and teamwork in immersive environments. A notable and enduring area of collaborative embodiment research focuses on approaches that enable multiple users to share control, interact, and investigate scenarios involving supernumerary arms in virtual spaces. In this survey, we will present an extensive overview of the methodologies employed in the past decade to enable collaboration in VR environments, particularly through embodiment. Using the PRISMA guidelines, we plan to analyze the study details from over 137 relevant research papers. Through this analysis, a critical assessment of the effectiveness of these methodologies will be conducted, highlighting current challenges and limitations in implementing collaborative embodiment in VR. Lastly, we discuss potential future research directions and opportunities for enhancing collaboration embodiment in virtual environments.