In focus: Proprioception and body map
Our proprioceptive system constantly tells us where each limb is and how the body is arranged; the body schema is the brain's running model of that information. In VR, AR and MR, this map is surprisingly pliable – sight, touch and movement cues can nudge it to accept new limb sizes, extra joints or even a completely different body.
Case Study: Body of Mine
In the award-winning full-body-tracked VR experience, Body of Mine by Cameron Kostopoulos130(SXSW 2023, Venice Immersive 2023), users step into an avatar of a different gender. Live head, hand and eye tracking ensure movements line up, while first-person audio from trans interviewees is delivered through spatialised sound, tightening ownership of the borrowed body.