Project description
Innovating mixed reality solutions for distributed group environments
In distributed group environments, which have become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic, creative problem-solving in face-to-face collaborations has been limited due to a lack of shared physical spaces. Mixed reality (MR) offers a solution by allowing collaborators’ avatars to interact. However, differences in these distributed spaces create spatial incongruities that hinder effective collaboration. The ERC-funded BRIDGE project will develop Blended Proxemics, an innovative approach to distributed MR collaboration that integrates real physical surface interactions into a dynamic environment for group collaboration. It will enable the mapping of surfaces, allowing for scaling between users in similar and dissimilar spaces. The project’s boldest aim is to pursue in-the-wild validation by establishing an MR living lab to test solutions in real work environments.
Objective
Creative problem-solving in face-to-face collaboration relies on spatiality, which is lacking in current distributed collaboration tools. What if distributed groups could blend their physical spaces to collaborate as if they were face-to-face? Mixed Reality (MR) offers this potential by arranging collaborators’ avatars around shared physical surfaces like desks and whiteboards. Proxemics theory highlights that this spatial arrangement makes collaboration effective. But when distributed space arrangements are dissimilar, it causes spatial incongruencies in collaboration cues, such as pointing gestures.
To address this challenge, BRIDGE will develop a novel approach to distributed MR collaboration – Blended Proxemics – that blends people’s real physical surface interactions into a dynamic environment for group collaboration. By supporting MR users in adapting the mapping between surfaces, solutions will be able to scale beyond two users across similar spaces, to groups across dissimilar spaces. Additionally, BRIDGE will address a timely paradox: despite the hype on MR collaboration, we still have no lived experience with how it might change distributed collaboration practices. BRIDGE will establish a novel MR Living Lab to validate the effectiveness of solutions against real work environments with stakeholders.
Achieving the goals of BRIDGE requires taking the risk to change both the conceptual, technical, and methodological foundations of the field. Therefore, BRIDGE will (1) develop Blended Proxemics as a new theory for spatial congruency in blended collaboration, providing a taxonomy for researchers to explore solutions, (2) invent new adaptive space mapping techniques and validate their effectiveness for group creativity, and (3) identify real-world barriers to collaborative MR adoption through the Living Lab.
BRIDGE results will radically change how we approach distributed MR collaboration research, paving the way for adoption in real-world distributed teamwork.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.