• The KIPS Transactions:PartA
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• v.11A no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2004

This paper presents a facial expression control method of 3D avatar that enables the user to select a sequence of facial frames from the facial expression space, whose level of details the user can select hierarchically. Our system creates the facial expression spare from about 2,400 captured facial frames. But because there are too many facial expressions to select from, the user faces difficulty in navigating the space. So, we visualize the space hierarchically. To partition the space into a hierarchy of subspaces, we use fuzzy clustering. In the beginning, the system creates about 11 clusters from the space of 2,400 facial expressions. The cluster centers are displayed on 2D screen and are used as candidate key frames for key frame animation. When the user zooms in (zoom is discrete), it means that the user wants to see mort details. So, the system creates more clusters for the new level of zoom-in. Every time the level of zoom-in increases, the system doubles the number of clusters. The user selects new key frames along the navigation path of the previous level. At the maximum zoom-in, the user completes facial expression control specification. At the maximum, the user can go back to previous level by zooming out, and update the navigation path. We let users use the system to control facial expression of 3D avatar, and evaluate the system based on the results.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.18-29
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• 2022

This study proposes an evaluation item model for the avatar expression process, satisfaction and self-identification for each expression element in order to investigate the expression attributes on the influence on the user in setting the avatar. The evaluation of avatar expression method was composed of self-identification and satisfaction by ease of expression and expression elements on the avatar production and expression process. To evaluate the proposed evaluation model, 17 people participated in the experiment. As a result, it was found that most of the participants had a high level of understanding of the production process, and the more diverse the expression elements, the higher the satisfaction with the avatar expression process. Hair shape and face shape were the most important expression factors, and clothes and overall harmony was the most concerned facotrs. Most of them tried to express themselves as realistically as possible. However, in self-identification, there was no significant correlation between expression and production process. In this study identify the decision-making factors that appear in the avatar expression process, the direction in which satisfaction can be formed, and the factors that affect self-identification. In addition, it will be a basic study on how avatars have a lasting influence on users in the future.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

In the COVID-19 pandemic era, non-contact services were demanded and the use of extended reality and metaverse services increased rapidly in various applications. In this paper, we analyze Gather.town, ifland, Roblox, and ZEPETO metaverse platforms in terms of user interaction, avatar-based interaction, and virtual world authoring. Especially, we distinguish interactions among user input techniques that occur in the real world, avatar representation techniques to represent users in the virtual world, and interaction types that create a virtual world through user participation. Based on this work, we highlight the current trends and needs of human-metaverse interaction and forecast future opportunities and research directions.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.19-39
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• 2023

Purpose This study aims to identify user experience factors that can enhance both metaverse utilization and satisfaction based on the honeycomb model. For this we presented two research questions: first, what are the experience factors of metaverse users? Second, do metaverse user experience factors impact satisfaction? Design/methodology/approach To address these questions, a mixed-methodology approach is employed, including text mining techniques to analyze online reviews and quantitative econometric analysis to reveal the relationship between user experience factors and satisfaction. A total of 69,880 reviews and ratings data were collected. Findings The analysis revealed eight metaverse user experience factors: entertainment, operability, virtual reality, immersion, economic activity, visual performance, avatar, and sociality, all of which were found to have a positive impact on user satisfaction.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2015

Avatars are a visual representation of users in a virtual world such as an MMORPG. These avatars are often seen as representations or idealizations of the user's actual self. However, this view does not account for the prevalence of two behaviors: multiple avatars and 'gender swapping'. An exercise and questionnaire were created to study avatar customization practices across players outside the context of any particular game to understand better user motivations in creating their virtual selves. A preliminary trial of the exercise showed little correlation between age or gender and gender swapping. While those of non-traditional sexuality were more likely to gender swap, half of traditional sexuality also swapped. Finally, the personality trait, Openness to Experience, showed promising correlation with gender swapping.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1184-1196
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• 2010

Several applications of body scanning technology have been commercialized or are currently under development. The virtual fit from 3D scans is most advanced form of virtual try-on. This article is an analysis of the comparison of user preferences for domestic versus foreign 3D virtual try-on systems. For this study, domestic i-Fashion Mall (www.ifashionmall.co.kr) and a Canadian company, My Virtual Model (www.mvm.com) were selected as the most representative online retailers that offer a virtual try-on system. The respondents were comprised of 70 Korean female college students in the age group 20-29. A five point Likert scale was used to evaluate the degree of the preference of virtual avatar and try-on images. T-test, cross table, and a chi-square independence test were conducted for data analysis. The results are as follow. 1. The representation about current looks according to each virtual fit image indicates that MVM is more accurate than i-Fashion Mall. 2. About decision confidence, respondents have decision confidence in i-Fashion Mall in the case of the avatar image; however, respondents have confidence in MVM or the fit image. 3. There were no significant differences in among waist size groups in accuracy, trust of each avatar image, while there were significant differences among waist size groups in the accuracy and trust of each virtual fit image. 4. About ease of use, respondents answered that i-Fashion Mall is superior to MVM. 5. The respondents prioritized the ‘fitting report’ of i-Fashion Mall and ‘Weight loss’ of MVM over other functionalities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.907-921
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• 2021

This study aims to predict causal relationships between experience economy, perceived flow, and continuous use intention in the mixed reality (MR) environment. A virtual fitting mirror with two modes (i.e., avatar and self-image) was selected for this study. A total of 200 samples was obtained in two sample frames: virtual fitting users in avatar mode (group 1, n = 119) and self-image mode (group 2, n = 81). The results showed that the experience economy consists of entertainment, education, esthetic, and escapism. The entertainment and esthetic experiences had positive effects on perceived flow, leading to continuous use intentions. For avatar mode, the entertainment and esthetic experiences had positive effects on continuous use intentions through the mediating effect of flow; and the education experience had a positive effect on the continuous intentions to use the MR technology. For self-image mode, the flow mediated the effect of entertainment on continuous use intentions, whereas education and escapism directly affected the intention to use the MR technology. The paper also discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of using MR technologies in fashion retailing.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.120-128
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• 2022

While online social interactions have been more prevalent with the increased popularity of Metaverse platforms, little has been studied the effects of facial expressions in virtual reality (VR), which is known to play a key role in social contexts. To understand the importance of presenting facial expressions of a virtual avatar under different contexts, we conducted a user study with 24 participants where they were asked to have a conversation and play a charades game with an avatar with and without facial expressions. The results show that participants tend to gaze at the face region for the majority of the time when having a conversation or trying to guess emotion-related keywords when playing charades regardless of the presence of facial expressions. Yet, we confirmed that participants prefer to see facial expressions in virtual reality as well as in real-world scenarios as it helps them to better understand the contexts and to have more immersive and focused experiences.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.762-770
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• 2014

Tangible Space Initiative (TSI) is a new framework that can provide a more natural and intuitive Human Computer Interface for users. This is composed of three cooperative components: a Tangible Interface, Responsive Cyber Space, and Tangible Agent. In this paper we present a Tangible Tele-Meeting system in TSI, which allows people to communicate with each other without any spatial limitation. In addition, we introduce a method for registering a Tangible Avatar with a Tangible Agent. The suggested method is based on relative pose estimation between the user and the Tangible Agent. Experimental results show that the user can experience an interaction environment that is more natural and intelligent than that provided by conventional tele-meeting systems.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1244-1251
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• 2003

In the paper, we develop the ‘Navigation Mechanism’ that can present the 3D space and trace the location in the user's viewpoint. Especially, using this mechanism, VRML tools are used to develop the virtual reality space in the internet. These mechanism can effectively represent the 3D virtual reality space and apply the many 3D related parts like architefure, education, entertainment and so on.