TY - GEN

T1 - Eating together while being apart

T2 - 2020 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VRW 2020

AU - Korsgaard, Dannie

AU - Bjorner, Thomas

AU - Bruun-Pedersen, Jon R.

AU - Sorensen, Pernille K.

AU - Perez-Cueto, Federico J.A.

PY - 2020/3

Y1 - 2020/3

N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of mixed-reality systems to virtually manipulate the eating experience and facilitate increased food intake among older participants. Social isolation is often associated with undernourishment among older adults receiving care services. Mixed-reality systems that blend real elements and a virtual world can conveniently allow older adults to eat a meal in their home while experiencing having a conversation with friends through virtual avatars in a virtual environment. A within-subjects study on thirty older participants investigated whether the mixed-reality illusion of eating in a living room with and without familiar others contributed positively to the meal experience and increased energy intake. The results did not display any significant changes in energy intake but highlighted that the virtual living room had a more energetic and pleasant atmosphere and that meals eaten in the virtual room were perceived to be of a higher quality compared to meals eaten in the real lab environment. Eating while engaging in avatar-based social interactions with three remotely located friends resulted in lower sensations of being alone and positive mood changes. A discussion of the reasons for the absence of increases in energy intake is included.

AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of mixed-reality systems to virtually manipulate the eating experience and facilitate increased food intake among older participants. Social isolation is often associated with undernourishment among older adults receiving care services. Mixed-reality systems that blend real elements and a virtual world can conveniently allow older adults to eat a meal in their home while experiencing having a conversation with friends through virtual avatars in a virtual environment. A within-subjects study on thirty older participants investigated whether the mixed-reality illusion of eating in a living room with and without familiar others contributed positively to the meal experience and increased energy intake. The results did not display any significant changes in energy intake but highlighted that the virtual living room had a more energetic and pleasant atmosphere and that meals eaten in the virtual room were perceived to be of a higher quality compared to meals eaten in the real lab environment. Eating while engaging in avatar-based social interactions with three remotely located friends resulted in lower sensations of being alone and positive mood changes. A discussion of the reasons for the absence of increases in energy intake is included.

KW - Collaborative and social computing systems and tools

KW - Human computer interaction (HCI)

KW - Human-centered computing

KW - Information systems

KW - Information systems applications

KW - Interaction paradigms

KW - Mixed / augmented reality

U2 - 10.1109/VRW50115.2020.00079

DO - 10.1109/VRW50115.2020.00079

M3 - Article in proceedings

AN - SCOPUS:85085370120

T3 - Proceedings - 2020 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VRW 2020

SP - 365

EP - 370

BT - Proceedings - 2020 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VRW 2020

PB - IEEE

Y2 - 22 March 2020 through 26 March 2020

ER -