Motives and Role of Psychological Ownership in AR Workspaces for Remote Collaboration

Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) systems have been proposed as solutions to reinforce remote collaboration over performing physical tasks by integrating digital information into the physical environment. However, there is a fundamental gap that arises from the difference in the degree to which remote and local workers interact with virtual and physical objects, which is attributed to differing senses of ownership over these objects. Addressing this gap, my thesis investigates how collaborative functionality affects psychological ownership in shared AR workspaces. Specifically, the study examines how the ability to modify annotations shapes Individual and Collective Psychological Ownership (IPO and CPO). Furthermore, I explore how IPO and CPO mediate the effect of collaborative functionality on the outcomes of remote collaboration. My overall goal is to extend the theoretical understanding of psychological ownership, offering insights into the dynamics of shared AR environments by focusing on the interplay between physical and virtual elements.