Communication effectiveness in face-to-face and immersive virtual environment : an initial evaluation for construction

Abstract

Traditional methods of communication in the construction are changing, notably due to advancements in computer-mediated communication technologies such as immersive virtual reality (IVR), which can provide new opportunities for long-distance communication among stakeholders. Despite this, little research has examined whether or how far IVR-based visual communication can replicate the characteristics of face-to-face (FtF) communication or the relative effectiveness of these two types of communication. Accordingly, to compare the communication effectiveness of these two channels, students were selected to role-play the different construction stakeholders and compared five key aspects of FtF communication against those of remote communication with IVR support. Results indicate that IVR-based student groups experienced better communication – in terms of both quality of discussion and communicative richness – than their FtF counterparts. However, communicative appropriateness, openness, and accuracy were all higher in the FtF student groups. These results could be helpful for construction-industry stakeholders to strengthen inter-organizational communication and to deal with impediments to communication among project participants in both FtF and virtual environments.