{"title":"Effectiveness of virtual reality technologies in digital entrepreneurship: a comparative study of two types of virtual agents","authors":"Sihem ben Saad, Fatma Choura","doi":"10.1108/jrme-01-2021-0013","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"\nPurpose\nThe rapid progress of information and communication technologies enables business creators to access a wide variety of tools. These tools facilitate electronic exchanges and interactions with customers and companies. The purpose of this study is to test and compare the effectiveness of two virtual reality technologies, the avatar and anthropomorphic virtual agents, on consumers’ psychological states and perceived realism.\n\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nAn experimental survey was conducted to measure the potential superiority of the anthropomorphic virtual agent over the avatar and to identify the determining characteristics of the anthropomorphic virtual agent’s effectiveness. An experimental website was designed for the purpose of the study. A total of 1,262 internet users participated in the experiment.\n\n\nFindings\nResults confirm the superiority of the anthropomorphic virtual agent over the avatar in affecting consumers’ flow state, telepresence experience and perceived realism. These findings can be explained by the humanized characteristics of this type of agent (i.e. verbal and nonverbal language).\n\n\nOriginality/value\nThe originality of this research lies in the study of different forms of social interactivity. This latter has been little studied and essentially treated with a dichotomous perspective (presence/absence of a virtual agent). New trends in digital marketing challenge entrepreneurs to be proactive and to anticipate customers’ behavior on their online stores. That is why, virtual reality technologies, namely, anthropomorphic agents, can be considered as a relevant tool to engage in efficient inbound marketing strategies. Today, the development of intelligent technologies encourages entrepreneurs operating online to design more interactive, realistic and humanized virtual merchant environments that are more adapted to the realities of the new consumption trends and environment.\n","PeriodicalId":45322,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2022-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"7","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jrme-01-2021-0013","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BUSINESS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 7
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid progress of information and communication technologies enables business creators to access a wide variety of tools. These tools facilitate electronic exchanges and interactions with customers and companies. The purpose of this study is to test and compare the effectiveness of two virtual reality technologies, the avatar and anthropomorphic virtual agents, on consumers’ psychological states and perceived realism.
Design/methodology/approach
An experimental survey was conducted to measure the potential superiority of the anthropomorphic virtual agent over the avatar and to identify the determining characteristics of the anthropomorphic virtual agent’s effectiveness. An experimental website was designed for the purpose of the study. A total of 1,262 internet users participated in the experiment.
Findings
Results confirm the superiority of the anthropomorphic virtual agent over the avatar in affecting consumers’ flow state, telepresence experience and perceived realism. These findings can be explained by the humanized characteristics of this type of agent (i.e. verbal and nonverbal language).
Originality/value
The originality of this research lies in the study of different forms of social interactivity. This latter has been little studied and essentially treated with a dichotomous perspective (presence/absence of a virtual agent). New trends in digital marketing challenge entrepreneurs to be proactive and to anticipate customers’ behavior on their online stores. That is why, virtual reality technologies, namely, anthropomorphic agents, can be considered as a relevant tool to engage in efficient inbound marketing strategies. Today, the development of intelligent technologies encourages entrepreneurs operating online to design more interactive, realistic and humanized virtual merchant environments that are more adapted to the realities of the new consumption trends and environment.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship (JRME) publishes research that contributes to our developing knowledge of entrepreneurial and small business marketing. Even though research into the relationship between marketing and entrepreneurship is still relatively young, the subject has thus far proved exciting and thought provoking, and critical thinking has progressed rapidly.The journal stands at the interface of research in marketing and entrepreneurship. Coverage may include, but is not limited to: -The size and structure of the entrepreneurial enterprise. -SMEs and micro businesses approach marketing -Intrapreneurship -The role of entrepreneurship in marketing -The role of marketing in entrepreneurship -How do successful entrepreneurs market their product and services? -Competencies necessary for the successful entrepreneur -The role of entrepreneurship (and, as appropriate, intrapreneurship) in the development of organizations -Life cycles of organizations: the stages in the growth of firms and the analysis of critical episodes -The influence of external help, support, and personal contact networks -Opportunity recognition -Relationships between SMEs and larger firms: how SMEs interact successfully with larger firms and how these larger firms in turn manage their relationships with SMEs -Strategic and management issues that pertain to marketing -Cultural and sociological perspectives of the entrepreneur -Cross-cultural studies and work on developing economies -Appropriate research methodologies
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