Injecting Nonverbal Mimicry with Hybrid Avatar-Agent Technologies - A Naïve Approach

Explore a conference talk that delves into the concept of injecting nonverbal mimicry in virtual interactions using hybrid avatar-agent technologies. Learn about a prototype called the "Mimicry Injector" designed to artificially introduce mimicry in real-time virtual communications. Discover the study's methodology, where participants engaged in a VR negotiation task with avatars either replicating original behavior or displaying induced mimicry. Examine the findings, which reveal that while most participants didn't detect the modification, it didn't significantly impact communication perception. Gain insights into the prototype's development, including examples, simulations, and state machines. Understand the potential improvements, future work, and implications of this technology for fostering interpersonal understanding and rapport in virtual environments.