Is High-Fidelity Important for Human-like Virtual Avatars in Human Computer Interactions?

As virtual avatars have become increasingly popular in recent years, current needs indicate that “interactivity” is crucial for inducing a positive response from users towards these avatars, especially in human computer interactions (HCI). This paper reviews recent works on high-fidelity human-like virtual avatars (e.g. high visual and motion fidelity) and discusses the critical question——“Is high-fidelity a positive choice for virtual avatars to achieve better interactions in HCI”. Furthermore, we summarise current technical approaches to developing those virtual avatars. We investigate the advantages and disadvantages of high-fidelity virtual avatars in different areas focusing on addressing the effect of motion, especially the upper body. Research shows that high-fidelity is a positive choice for virtual avatars, although it may depend on the application.