COVID-Vision: A Virtual Reality Experience to Encourage Mindfulness of Social Distancing in Public Spaces

Abstract

Social distancing is currently the most effective known countermeasure against the rapid proliferation of the virus that causes COVID-19. This project aims to encourage mindfulness about maintaining interpersonal distance in shared public spaces through a multi-user virtual reality experience that simulates shopping in a grocery store. The virtual environment is populated with non-player characters that navigate through the store and also supports up to 20 concurrent live users represented as avatars. Real-time feedback is implemented using a dynamic visual effect that reacts to physical proximity, and comparative performance metrics are also provided for users to reflect on after the task is completed.