Virtual humans and avatars have become integral components of immersive technologies, shaping various aspects of virtual worlds. This dissertation investigates the nuanced interactions between user demographics and virtual avatars, exploring their impact on perception, embodiment, and persuasive communication. The first study investigates the effectiveness of different speech fidelity levels in virtual humans, revealing gender-dependent perceptions of trustworthiness. Building on this, this dissertation introduces the Virtual Avatar Library for Inclusion and Diversity (VALID), offering a comprehensive resource for advancing racial diversity and inclusion in virtual environments. Through rigorous validation studies, we shed light on the perception of avatar characteristics worldwide, emphasizing the importance of accurately representing diverse demographics.
This dissertation also examines the influence of matching avatar demographics to user demographics on sense of embodiment in virtual reality. We found significant effects of matched ethnicity and gender on sense of embodiment, revealing the importance of providing diverse representations for users in applications and experiments. Furthermore, we explored the intricate interactions between user demographics and avatar matching effects, revealing how some demographics may be disproportionally affected by unmatched avatars.
Through a diverse array of experiments and validation studies, this dissertation provides valuable insights into the design, perception, and implications of virtual representations in immersive technologies and paves the way for more inclusive and effective virtual environments.
Ryan McMahan, Committee Chair.
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