Tool-type interface system supporting for an expansion of body image toward a remote place - Development of virtual shadow interface system

There is considered a problem of disembodiment in computer-mediated communication technology supporting a communication between remote partners. Therefore, whole sense of bodily interaction should be considered and supported. We have studied a design framework and developed communication systems to support embodied interaction so far. In this paper, we pay attention on a shadow non-separable from a real object, and devise a virtual shadow interface system that bridges between a tool and own body, and between a physical place and a virtual remote place by casting a virtual shadow. Our system is promising to support a sense as if a tool in hand and body image expanded toward a virtual remote place continuously.