Exploring Avatar Seat Allocation Strategies in Social AR

In augmented reality (AR) collaboration, the visual representation of remote users’ avatars contributes significantly in fostering social presence, immersion, and effective communication. We conducted a within-subjects study where a seated participant interacted with a remote actor under three conditions: the avatar seated on a virtual chair, seated on a physical chair, and not seated. Participants completed completed a think-aloud exercise to evaluate avatar visualization preferences across varied social scenarios. We found participants overwhelmingly preferred seated avatars, but their allocation to physical or virtual chair was highly scenario-dependent, being affected by the amount of space available, of avatars in the meeting, and of physical chairs available. We identify three main allocation strategies, prioritising either physical chair occupancy, avatar seat consistency, or virtual chairs for the avatars. We conclude with design guidelines for future AR teleconferencing systems.