AR Fitness Dog: Effects of a User-Mimicking Interactive Virtual Pet on User Experience and Social Presence in Physical Exercise.

This paper explores the impact of an augmented reality (AR) virtual dog, designed to mimic user behavior, on the exercise experience in both solo and group settings. Focusing on the virtual pet's role as a companion during physical activity, we conducted a human-subject experiment comparing three conditions: a mimicking virtual dog, a randomly behaving virtual dog, and no virtual dog. Participants exercised either solo or in groups, specifically in pairs, allowing for a detailed analysis of how the behavior and physical presence of the virtual dog influenced users' exercise experience and social connections.