Attention guidance method during walking based on conforming behavior using multiple virtual agents

Abstract

Humans observe the behavior of others and exhibit conforming behavior according to the situation. In this study, we propose a method to change an individual’s walking behavior and attention by changing the number of multiple virtual agents in action. We verified whether a particular pedestrian’s walking behavior and attention to a poster on the wall changed according to the type and proportion of actions of multiple agents presented to the pedestrian. The results showed that the pedestrian’s walking speed and attention to the wall advertisement changed according to the agents’walking behavior, such as deceleration and stopping.