A Study and Evaluation of the Operability and Avatar-Design for Three-Dimensional Cyber Space

Abstract

We developed and evaluated the e-Life Amenity System, a system that provides amenities to elderly people and children. From the view point of operability, the evaluation indicates that children preferred high degrees of input freedom. Furthermore, elderly people preferred simple 2D video to 2D video in 3D cyberspace, the exact opposite of children. From the view point of avatar design, the results showed that both elderly people and children preferred avatars that had facial images when the communication partner was a member of the family. When the partner was not a member of the family, elderly people still preferred the use of facial images, while children preferred avatars without facial images. Furthermore, both elderly people and children preferred simple 2D facial images to avatars having 2D block heads with facial images when the communication partner was a member of the family.