VR experience could be disclosed by measuring presence, realism, and reality’s levels. Presence is a complex psychological feeling of “being there” in VR that involves the sensation and perception of physical presence, as well as the possibility to interact and react as if the user was in the real world
- Heeter 1992

Social presence, or the feeling of being there with a “real” person, is a crucial component of interactions that take place in virtual reality

We conclude considering the disruptive contribution that VR will be able to get in scientific fields, as well in human communication and interaction, as already happened with the advent of mobile phones by increasing the use and the development of scientific applications (e.g., in clinical areas) and by modifying the social communication and interaction among people.

VR social platforms allow users to collaborate in virtual reality from remote locations. These solutions enable users to meet up in the same virtual space and communicate through both speech and text. Businesses can use these tools to improve employee productivity and collaboration from any location.

VR social platforms offer users the ability to choose and edit avatars to represent their likeness as well as custom environments to host a virtual meetup. These meetups can range from collaborating in a virtual conference room to viewing a presentation together.

This type of software can be deployed simultaneously to multiple users, which can enhance remote employees’ ability to work with their colleagues. VR social platforms should allow users to develop their virtual spaces to fit their specific needs, typically done so with a VR SDK. These solutions may also facilitate the recording and playback of virtual meetings.

To qualify for inclusion in the VR Social Platforms category, a product must:

Allow for users to select an avatar to represent their likeness
Enable users to select and edit environments to host meetups
Provide the ability to communicate with other participants through speech and text
Allow users to participate in a given activity together