Close or Far?
Have your every thinking about how proximity impact your trust?
Too Close for Comfort?
Exploring how virtual proximity shapes trust in a digital world where distance is just pixels
The Proximity-Trust Connection
Ever wondered if a virtual agent feels more trustworthy when they're standing next to you versus across the room? We're diving deep into how different types of proximity influence trust in virtual environments.
Experience Virtual Proximity
Move the slider to see how physical distance affects trust perception
📏 Physical Proximity in Virtual Space
How the virtual distance between you and an agent affects your trust. Are you more comfortable with a chatbot that maintains eye contact from across the room or one that stands shoulder-to-shoulder?
Virtual Distance
Measuring avatar-to-avatar distance in virtual meters and its impact on perceived trustworthiness.
Eye Contact
The role of gaze direction and eye contact in establishing trust at different virtual distances.
Body Language
How virtual gestures and posture convey trustworthiness across spatial distances.
🌍 Geographical Proximity
Does it matter if your virtual agent is "located" in your city versus another continent? How geographical context influences trust in virtual interactions.
Local Context
How agents with knowledge of local culture and geography build stronger trust.
Time Zones
The influence of synchronized time zones on perceived availability and reliability.
Virtual Location
Whether agent's stated location affects trust, even in digital environments.
What We're Discovering
Early findings from our pilot studies reveal fascinating patterns in how proximity dimensions interweave with trust
The Sweet Spot
There's an optimal virtual distance range where trust peaks. Too close feels invasive, too far feels disconnected. Our research suggests this sweet spot varies by cultural background and task complexity.
The Uncanny Valley Effect
Virtual agents that are "too human" in their proximity behavior can trigger discomfort. We're finding that slight digital artifacts actually increase trust by clearly signaling the agent's artificial nature.
Culture Matters
Personal space norms from the physical world translate into virtual environments. Users from high-context cultures show different trust patterns compared to those from low-context backgrounds.
Join Our Research Journey
Want to be part of our study? Here's how we explore proximity and trust in virtual environments.
Virtual Meet & Greet
Meet our research avatar in a controlled VR environment
Proximity Variations
Experience different proximity scenarios while completing tasks
Trust Assessment
Rate your trust level through various interactive measures
Debrief & Insights
Share your experience and discover personalized insights
Preliminary Findings
Here's what our pilot studies are revealing about proximity and trust
Ready to Explore Trust in Virtual Space?
Join our study and help shape the future of human-agent interaction
👥 Social Proximity
The social connection you feel with virtual agents. Do you trust agents more when they share your interests, speak your language, or seem to understand your context?
Shared Identity
How agents that reflect user demographics and values build stronger trust connections.
Communication Style
The impact of conversational tone, humor, and cultural references on trust perception.
Shared Experiences
Building trust through common interests, activities, and mutual connections.