Beyond the Canvas: Shared Experiences in a Cross-Reality Installation
von der Heide, A., Vona, F., Voigt-Antons, J.-N. & George, C.
Poster accepted for presentation at the 32nd ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST 2026), Sendai, Japan, November 2026
Abstract
Cross-reality (CR) systems connect people across physical and virtual spaces, enabling shared experiences across different interfaces and levels of immersion. Supporting effective communication and collaboration across these heterogeneous conditions remains a central design challenge. We report an in-the-wild study (N = 45) of a public installation linking a gesture-controlled gallery wall and an immersive virtual gallery through synchronized content and a digital mirror. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined user experience and presence measures with observations and interviews, we investigated how participants experienced collaboration across the two realities. Questionnaire results showed no significant interface-side differences in user experience or presence. Interviews and observations nevertheless showed that successful collaboration depended on verbal communication and a reliable shared view of the other reality.
Cite as
von der Heide, A., Vona, F., Voigt-Antons, J.-N. & George, C. (2026, November). Beyond the Canvas: Shared Experiences in a Cross-Reality Installation. Poster accepted for presentation at the 32nd ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST 2026), Sendai, Japan.
