Research

At the VAAIL, situated within the Department of Psychology at the University of Central Florida, we bring together psychologists, human–computer interaction researchers, and virtual reality enthusiasts to explore the future of immersive technologies. Our work focuses on designing and evaluating innovative virtual and augmented reality applications through a human-centered lens. By studying how people experience and interact with immersive environments, we aim to uncover principles that guide the development of effective, engaging, and meaningful virtual experiences. The list below includes all publications from 2025 onward. ​​To see a list with all accepted publications prior to 2025, visit this Google Scholar profile.

Abstract: Virtual reality (VR) allows to embody avatars. Coined the Proteus effect, an avatar’s visual appearance can influence users’ behavior and perception. Recent work suggests that athletic avatars decrease perceptual and physiological responses during VR exercise. However, such effects can fail to occur when users do not experience avatar ownership and identification. While customized avatars increase body ownership and identification, it is unclear whether they improve the Proteus effect. We conducted a study with 24 participants to determine the effects of athletic and non-athletic avatars that were either customized or randomly assigned. We developed a customization editor to allow creating customized avatars. We found that customized avatars reduced perceived exertion. We also found that athletic avatars decreased heart rate while holding weights, however, only when being customized. Results indicate that customized avatars can positively influence users during physical exertion. We discuss the utilization of avatar customization in VR exercise systems.

Abstract: Navigating is essential in many video games. However, previous work suggests that many games still suffer from navigational problems that decrease enjoyment. In this paper, we focus on “Desire Paths”, informal trails collectively created by pedestrians representing the most convenient route. While they are known to be useful wayfinding aids, it is unclear how they affect navigation and experience in games. We therefore investigated diegetically visualized player trajectory data in a 2D game through virtual footprints that were persistently visible for all subsequent players. Through a mixed-methods study involving 50 participants, we found that virtual footprints improved navigation by guiding players to points of interest and reducing disorientation for early players. However, visual clutter from excessive footprints reduced their effectiveness in later stages. They also fostered a sense of community, especially for late-stage players and prompted exploration of yet undiscovered areas. We further discuss design implications and future research directions.

Abstract: Designers of virtual characters use facial expressions to display avatar emotions. Previous work revealed connections between emotions and thermoregulatory, e.g., happiness increases and sadness decreases skin temperature. As virtual reality (VR) enables embodying avatars with any facial expression, it is unclear whether embodying avatars with different emotions also affect users’ thermophysiological and emotional responses. We conducted a study with 24 participants who embodied customized avatars displaying happy, neutral, and sad facial expressions in VR. We found that participants’ skin temperature was higher with sad avatars than with happy ones while resting. Despite non-significant pairwise comparisons, descriptive statistics suggest an opposite trend for skin temperature responses during grabbing interactions. We also show that participants felt happier while embodying happy avatars compared to sad avatars. Results indicate that avatars’ emotions impact users’ thermoregulation and affective states. We discuss underlying mechanisms and potential applications.

Abstract: Virtual Reality (VR) enables users to embody avatars with vastly different appearances and anatomies. Embodying virtual spiders with their alien morphology could offer exciting experiences for immersive VR in gaming or education. While prior research has explored embodiment of human-like avatars and even non-human forms such as animals, it still remains unclear how best to control anatomically distinct avatars such as spiders. In this study, we systematically compared four control methods – standard VR controller, hand control, half-body control, and full-body control – while embodying a spider in VR. Using a repeated-measures design with 20 participants, we assessed each control method in terms of embodiment, usability, and perceived exertion. Results indicate that half-body control offered the best overall balance, with the highest usability and lowest exertion, while still maintaining a comparable level of embodiment to other methods. Full-body control was rated significantly lower in usability and higher in perceived exertion. These findings suggest that half-body control may provide a good balance between realism and usability for embodying spiders in VR.