VR Public Speaking Simulations Can Make Voices Stronger and More Effortful

Ïo Valls-Ratés, Ïo Valls-Ratés, Oliver Niebuhr, Pilar Prieto, Pilar Prieto

2024

Abstract

In the field of public speaking, studies have mainly centered on the effects of virtual reality (VR) environments in reducing public speaking anxiety (PSA). However, prior research on the effect of VR simulations on high-school students’ performance in terms of the prosody of their speech and number of gestures while being immersed in a VR scenario is limited to just one study. The present paper examines the effects of practicing speeches with a VR-simulated audience on self-perceived PSA, and speaking performance qualified on the basis of the prosodic characteristics of the presenter’s voice and the rate of gestures they use while presenting. Forty-seven high school students participated in either a VR group that practiced a two-minute speech in front of a virtual audience, or a Non-VR group that delivered the same oral presentation alone in a room. Crucially, these were compared with a baseline initial oral task where students presented in front of a live audience. Practicing with VR resulted in significant differences across the groups pointing to VR-trained voices becoming stronger, more effortful and louder. Simulated audience seems to help speakers develop more audience-oriented prosody. This is particularly useful for rehearsing public speaking skills in the context of secondary school education to improve students’ oral competence.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Valls-Ratés Ï., Niebuhr O. and Prieto P. (2024). VR Public Speaking Simulations Can Make Voices Stronger and More Effortful. In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: ERSeGEL; ISBN 978-989-758-697-2, SciTePress, pages 685-693. DOI: 10.5220/0012748900003693

in Bibtex Style

@conference{ersegel24,
author={Ïo Valls-Ratés and Oliver Niebuhr and Pilar Prieto},
title={VR Public Speaking Simulations Can Make Voices Stronger and More Effortful},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: ERSeGEL},
year={2024},
pages={685-693},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012748900003693},
isbn={978-989-758-697-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 1: ERSeGEL
TI - VR Public Speaking Simulations Can Make Voices Stronger and More Effortful
SN - 978-989-758-697-2
AU - Valls-Ratés Ï.
AU - Niebuhr O.
AU - Prieto P.
PY - 2024
SP - 685
EP - 693
DO - 10.5220/0012748900003693
PB - SciTePress