Bringing Reality Back to Virtual Reality - A Collaborative Tool for Multidisciplinary Teams

We propose a new system combining a physical interface and a virtual environment that can be accessed through VR. Our aim is making collaboration in multidisciplinary teams more productive through the joint effects of immersion and presence through VR and the tactility and intuitiveness of a physical interface. A pilot experiment with 14 participants has been conducted. The study shows potential benefits of the system, such as the simplicity of a physical model promoting engagement, and the in-depth exploratory capabilities of the VR application enabling more solutions to be found.