Embodiment

The sense of inhabiting and controlling a virtual body in VR, feeling that the avatar is an extension of oneself rather than a separate entity. Embodiment is fostered through synchronized tracking of physical movements to avatar movements, visual congruence between the user's body and avatar, and natural interaction paradigms. For disabled users, embodiment has complex implications: hand tracking and body tracking can enhance embodiment but may also expose involuntary movements or limited range of motion. The relationship between a user's physical body and their virtual avatar body is deeply personal, with preferences for matching or non-matching representations varying by individual and context.