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Writer's pictureVirtual Girl Nem
Jun 25

Share your thoughts in the Social VR Lifestyle Survey "Identity in Metaverse"

Updated: Jun 28

Reference: Virtual Girl Nem

Social VR Lifestyle Survey "Identity in Metaverse" 

🔎 On June 24, "Nem x Mila", the research group composed of Swiss anthropologist Liudmila (Mila) Bredikhina and VTuber/author Virtual Girl Nem, launched a large-scale qualitative survey titled "Identity in Metaverse". The aim of this survey is to gain a deeper qualitative understanding of the nature of social VR users’ identities. The survey deadline is July 12, and the report will be released for free later.

Please take 10 minutes to share your thoughts - Here is the survey form


Unlike previous quantitative study from "Nem x Mila", the "Social VR Lifestyle Survey 2023," this new research employs open-ended questions in a qualitative format. To enhance the significance of this survey, Dr. Junji Ohyama from the Human Augmentation Research Center (HARC) at AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) has provided supervision. Given the challenging nature of qualitative surveys, various metaverse-related media and communities are endorsing this project as "official supporters" by disseminating information.

  • “Social VR,” or Social Virtual Reality, refers to a technology and platform that allows people to interact with each other in a shared three-dimensional virtual space through the use of virtual reality (VR) technology, such as VR goggles. Examples include VRChat, Neos VR, cluster, VirtualCast, and more.


Large-Scale Qualitative Survey "Identity in Metaverse (Social VR Lifestyle Survey Deep-dive Series)

The last two times, we conducted large-scale quantitative surveys titled "Social VR Lifestyle Survey". These reports generated significant feedback from users, who expressed a desire for a deeper understanding of not only the percentages of responses but also of the reasons and causes behind the answers. Therefore, this time we are conducting a qualitative survey focusing on the particularly noteworthy aspect of "Social VR Users' Identity." Through open-ended text questions, we ask about the motivations behind designing avatars and the relationship between identity in both physical reality and the metaverse. By combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of trends in social VR.

  • Method: A publicly available bilingual survey (Japanese and English) conducted using Google Forms. The estimated time for completion is approximately 10 to 20 minutes.

  • Purpose: To gain a deeper qualitative understanding of the nature of social VR users' identities. The report will be released free of charge. Participants' anonymity will be guaranteed.

  • Eligibility: Users who have used social VR (VRChat, Neos VR, cluster, Virtual Cast, etc.) with a VR head-mounted display at least 5 times in the last year. (Please refrain from answering if you connect to Social VR only from desktop or phone)

  • Response acceptance period: June 24 to July 12, 2024

  • Cautions: You can answer the survey only once. The form is anonymous. We do not ask for personal information. This survey includes eight free text questions; please refrain from disclosing any personal information. Please be aware that the survey includes sensitive questions about identity. 

  • Survey form：https://forms.gle/YhuCD6Qcb9Ki16PJ8



Social VR Lifestyle Survey 2023 by Nem and Mila, to investigate the impact of VTubers and the metaverse on humanity.

Supervisor

Dr. Junji Ohyama, a cognitive psychologist, is cooperating with this survey as a supervisor, and contributes overall comments for the reports. He studies "lifestyles" within the metaverse and cyber-physical societies, particularly from the perspective of identity and embodiment.

Dr. Junji Ohyama

Human Augmentation Research Center (HARC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) / Cognitive Interaction Design Lab., Univ of Tsukuba

・Lab Official Website: https://sciadlab.wordpress.com/

 

Official Supporters

Because this survey by “Nem x Mila” is a qualitative study with a higher response threshold compared to their previous surveys, various metaverse-related media and communities are helping to disseminate information.

＜English-speaking regions＞

● IMMERSIVE WIRE

A UK-based web media outlet providing information on the metaverse and spatial computing.

● AXON PARK

A virtual campus for digital learning in the Metaverse.

Company website: https://axonpark.com/

● GLITCHES.VR

A VR collective forged from a community of artists, scientists and VR enthusiasts.

● VR CLUB AT UIUC

A VR community comprised of students from the prestigious University of Illinois (UIUC).

Reference: Nem x Mila gave a lecture at the University of Illinois VR Club, discussing differences in avatar culture across various regions. https://medium.com/@nemchan_nel/9d732b9f2d20

● VIVERSE

A metaverse platform provided by HTC VIVE, which offers immersive VR, AR and MR headsets, glasses and experiences.

Official website: www.viverse.com


＜Japanese-speaking regions＞


● HIKKY Co., Ltd.

Plans and operates "Virtual Market (Vket),” the world's largest VR event in Metaverse.

Company website: https://www.hikky.co.jp/

● PANORA

Japan's first specialized VR news media outlet with a mission to spread VR in Japan.

Company website: https://panora.tokyo/

● Meta-cul Frontier

A news media outlet that delivers the "current state" and "possibilities" of the social Metaverse from the perspective of "metaverse residents."

● VR Ajito

A VR user community by MyDearest Inc., chosen as a recommended server by Discord at TGS2022.

● VNOS Corporation

An experimental organization aiming for a future where ‘V’ individuals can participate in society.

Company website: https://vnos.info/


Organiser: Research unit "Nem x Mila" (Social VR Lifestyle Survey Committee)

Virtual Girl Nem (@nemchan_nel) : Japanese VTuber, writer and Metaverse culture evangelist. HTC official VIVE ambassador. Published the commentary book "Metaverse Evolution Theory

"Identity in Metaverse” (Social VR Lifestyle Survey Deep-dive Series)" marks the fifth major research project undertaken by Virtual Girl Nem and Liudmila (Nem) Bredikhina to investigate the impact of VTubers and the metaverse on humanity. Last year, “Nem x Mila” also gave a presentation at the United Nations international conference, IGF Kyoto 2023.

Previous Major Research Projects:


Liudmila (Mila) Bredikhina

Liudmila Bredikhina (@BredikhinaL): A Ph.D. student in Switzerland. She received the "Prix Genre" (Gender Prize) academic award from the Geneva University for her master's thesis on "ba-bi-niku" and "VTubers" in 2022. In 2024, her feature documentary was broadcast on NHK (Japan's public broadcaster)'s "Deepest Japan Research."


  • Her MA thesis on "babiniku" received an academic award in the gender studies field at the University of Geneva: https://kai-you.net/article/83747

  • NHK's "Deepest Japan Research" featured an in-depth look at Swiss "babiniku" researcher Mila. The program explored the potential of "babiniku" and "kawaii" from the perspective of a foreign scholar: https://medium.com/@nemchan_nel/ce970bfabbae


Virtual Girl Nem

Virtual Girl Nem (@nemchan_nel) : Japanese VTuber, writer and Metaverse culture evangelist. HTC official VIVE ambassador. Published the commentary book "Metaverse Evolution Theory (Gijutsu hyoron-sha)" in 2022. Received the Grand Prize in the “IT Engineer Book Awards 2023” in the business book category.

 


For inquiries

For inquiries regarding this survey: Research Unit "Nem x Mila" (“Social VR Lifestyle Survey” Committee) , please contact Liudmila (Mila) Bredikhina: liudmila.bredikhina@gmail.com


 

✍️ About Virtual Girl Nem

A picture of Virtual Girl Nem, Japanese VTuber (Virtual YouTuber), Writer, Singer.

Japanese VTuber (Virtual YouTuber), Writer, Singer. Researching the culture of the Metaverse. The world's oldest independent VTuber.

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