Effects of Different Facial Blendshape Combinations on Social Presence for Avatar-mediated Mixed Reality Remote Communication

Abstract

In this paper, we delve into the influence of different facial blend-shape combinations on social presence and communication quality in avatar-mediated remote communication scenarios: informative speech and emotional conversation. The conducted user study (n = 32) underscores the crucial role of emotion-based blendshapes, suggesting that the emotionally essential blendshape combination outlines levels of social presence and communication quality. Our research highlights the potential of a streamlined approach for avatar facial control, facilitating emotional expressions and optimizing resources, fostering an avatar-mediated communication experience.