Flow experience in second life: The impact of telepresence on human-Computer interaction

Anthony Faiola, Olga Smyslova

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent trends in computer-mediated communication research suggest that "flow theory" may provide new applications of understanding within the field human-computer interaction (HCI). Csikszentmihalyi [1] refers to flow as an optimal experience issuing in a feeling of psychological immersion, energized focus, absolute involvement, and change to positive emotions. This study hopes to facilitate an understanding of flow and telepresence as applied to immersive online virtual worlds such as Second Life (SL), where players may lose their sense of time and connection with their present reality of space. Our study tested two hypotheses: (1) that participants experience flow while playing SL and (2) that flow can be correlated with telepresence. Based on our findings, indicators suggest that flow was experienced in SL based on four controlling factors related to being present in a virtual world and that there are considerable correlations that can be drawn between flow and telepresence.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOnline Communities and Social Computing - Third International Conference, OCSC 2009, Held as Part of HCI International 2009, Proceedings
Pages574-583
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event3rd International Conference on Online Communities and Social Computing, OCSC 2009. Held as Part of HCI International 2009 - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Jul 19 2009Jul 24 2009

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume5621 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference3rd International Conference on Online Communities and Social Computing, OCSC 2009. Held as Part of HCI International 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period7/19/097/24/09

Keywords

  • Computer-mediated communication
  • Flow
  • Telepresence
  • Usability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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