Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science
Introduction to Presence
Prof. A. Ferworn
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Topics
• Course Management Form
• Assignments
• Buzz words– Telepresence– Presence
• Research Questions– The Gestalt of Presence
• Measuring Presence
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
What is Telepresence?
• Term coined by Marvin Minsky in 1980 but attributed to the futurist Patrick Gunkel
• He meant: Manipulation of objects in the real world through remote access technology
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Telepresence
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Example: MAX Teleoperated dog on the Web (1998-99)
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
MAX
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Presence
• Expanded definition of Telepresence by Thomas Sheridan (1994)
• Presence is a theoretical concept describing the effect that people experience when they interact with a computer-mediated or computer-generated environment.
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
What is Presence?
• Sense of being present in an environment– A physical– Virtual– Imagined– Hallucinated feeling
• Being there is all in your head
• Therefore it is tough to measure
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
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Open Research QuestionsOpen Research Questions
• Is there a definition of presence that is Is there a definition of presence that is sufficiently operational and quantitative to sufficiently operational and quantitative to be useful?be useful?
• What are the factors that create a sense of What are the factors that create a sense of presence?presence?
• Are there Are there subjectivesubjective and and objective objective measures that can quantify presence?measures that can quantify presence?
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
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More QuestionsMore Questions
• Are there applications for which a sense of Are there applications for which a sense of presence actually improves operator presence actually improves operator performance?performance?
• Are there applications for which presence Are there applications for which presence is a necessary ingredient? If so, how are is a necessary ingredient? If so, how are these applications different from these applications different from applications for which a more traditional applications for which a more traditional display system is just as effective?display system is just as effective?
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
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Sheridan (1992)Sheridan (1992)
– Physical aspects of an Physical aspects of an experience that determine experience that determine “presence”: “presence”: • What Sensory data is What Sensory data is
available and how much?available and how much?• Can the sensors be Can the sensors be
controlled?controlled?• Can the environment be Can the environment be
modified?modified?
Sensory Information
Control of Sensors
Ability to ModifyEnvironment
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Why is Presence applicable to Robotics
• One of definition of the word robot might be:– Any device that
supports• Sensing• Actuation, and• Control
Sensory Information
Control of Sensors
Ability to ModifyEnvironment
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
How do we measure presence?How do we measure presence?• Well, it turns out, not very well• Subjective Measurements
– Questionnaires soliciting opinion about experience
• Indirect Psychological Measurements– Relate stimulus magnitude to opinion about the
stimulus magnitude
• Objective Measurements– Based on
• Performance measures of tasks• Physiological responses
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Questionnaires
• Example: – Witmer and Singer Questionnaire
• Questions about reactions to virtual environments
• Hope to create consistency across systems• General Approach among questionnaires
– Take assumptions about what presence is and make up questions concerning the assumptions
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Immersive Tendency Questionnaire
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Virtual Environment-Centric
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Physiological Responses
• Theory:– The real world changes our physiological
responses to it.– A remote or virtual world should do the same
if we are immersed in it.
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
Nervous, Sensory, Nervous, Sensory,
Blood ChemistryBlood Chemistry
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Measure this
• Relax• Find your Pulse• Watch this
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
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Performance measuresPerformance measures
• Success vs. failure measuresSuccess vs. failure measures– Based on individual task performanceBased on individual task performance
• Eg Bottle tests for teleoperation (next slide)Eg Bottle tests for teleoperation (next slide)
• Suspension of beliefSuspension of belief– Observable changes in mode of behavior relative to Observable changes in mode of behavior relative to
interfaceinterface• Forgetting the interface is there.Forgetting the interface is there.
• Instinctual responsesInstinctual responses– Ducking at approaching objectsDucking at approaching objects– Leaning into a perceived curveLeaning into a perceived curve– VocalizationsVocalizations
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
The Bottle Test
• While testing for presence is hit and miss, testing for other things can be quite easy
• This is the poor man’s testing strategy
• When you have nothing else, you can test an operator’s concentration and ability to focus with a simple bottle of water
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
The Bottle Test
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Example: Simulated Rollercoaster
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
How to Measure the PresenceHow to Measure the Presence
• Subjective Measure– Questionnaire concerning feeling before and
after ride
• Indirect Psychological– Perceived speed of ride vs. stimulus producing
this perception
• Physiological– Heart rate during ride
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
How would you measure these?
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Some Heuristics for Presence
• Everyone brings their own state of mind (Gestalt) to a situation.
• There is a large difference between the intensity of actually being there and being virtually or distantly there.
• perceptions and behavior of and in real-perceptions and behavior of and in real-world situations may be modified based on world situations may be modified based on virtual or mediated experiencesvirtual or mediated experiences
• Presence is consequence freePresence is consequence free
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
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Where is presence important?Where is presence important?
• TherapyTherapy
• Pain controlPain control
• RehabilitationRehabilitation
• EntertainmentEntertainment
• TrainingTraining
• EducationEducation
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science Prof. Alex Ferworn
Remember what I said about Remember what I said about GestaltGestalt