Multiplexed VR: Individualized Multiplexing Virtual Environment to Facilitate Switches for Group Ideation Creativity
Masahiro Kamihira, Juro Hosoi, Yuki Ban, Shin’ichi Warisawa · 2024
In virtual reality (VR) meetings, the virtual environment (VE) can be used to support the creativity of idea generation. Based on the previous research, it is expected that a diverse range of ideas can be generated through the switching of the VEs. However, in VR meetings, since multiple individuals share a VE, the switching operations of VEs will interfere with each other; thus, it is considered that the easiness of switching VEs may be suppressed. Therefore, we propose Multiplexed VR, which simultaneously provides each participant with a distinct VE. The results of the brainstorming experiment, including 48 participants (16 groups; three participants in each group), suggested that Multiplexed VR facilitated the switching of VEs and improved the quality of generated ideas. This improvement was attributed to Multiplexed VR enabling a more free and independent approach to VE switching, thereby fostering free thinking. We also observed a unique behavior with Multiplexed VR, termed “zapping”: when participants were stuck on idea generation, they continuously switched VEs in a short time to seek hints, suggesting that Multiplexed VR changed the way people switch VEs. These findings provide new insights into VE designs for more effective idea generation in VR meetings.