Creation and co-share of "Maai" ("ma" - perceptive distance) by the interface employing the embodiment

Abstract

For establishing a communicative atmosphere, it is indispensably important to create a spatial distance ("ma" - perceptive distance or "Maai" in Japanese). In this research, the "Kendo" (Japanese-style fencing) match system using a "Kendo" robot (a video character) was employed to investigate a supporting method for the generation of the "ma" - perceptive distance in a telecommunication where participants operate their own argents within the virtual space. It was found that a transmission of the rhythmic robot-control signal and representations of the coherency between each rhythmic robot-control signal can support to generate the "ma" - perceptive distance with remote opponents. It was also found that a transmission of the rhythmic robot-control signal and the expression of the opponent's existence by the shadow can support to create the "ma" - perceptive distance. It was suggested that there was a possibility that the 1/f fluctuation could be related to such a generation of the "ma" - perceptive distance. These findings provide us an important design guideline for the telecommunication system where participants operate their own argents within the virtual space.