[DC] Beyond Avatars: Designing Bodily Interfaces in Virtual Environments

Our bodies serve as the interface between physical and virtual realities, mediating our perceptions and actions within immersive environments, and enabling the potential for novel experiences or "superpowers." My PhD research investigates how bodily interfaces can be redesigned to augment user behavior in virtual reality (VR). Specifically, I explore avatar morphologies, transitioning from continuous to discrete forms, such as swarm bodies, to improve the manipulation of multiple objects simultaneously. Additionally, I examine on-body menus, focusing on how the spatial relationship between menu positions and different body landmarks influences user preferences. My ongoing work also addresses microgestures for VR, analyzing their application in text editing and object selection. Moving forward, my research will further investigate control mechanisms for discrete avatars and explore new ways to enhance users’ perception and control of their virtual bodies. Ultimately, my dissertation aims to advance more immersive interactions in virtual environments by leveraging the potential of bodily interfaces.