Virtual Soccer Experiment Bonds Strangers

Thanks to BBC News for its article discussing a virtual reality game using a soccer ball and an 'exertion interface', as devised by MIT's Media Lab Europe in Dublin. The article explains: "Breakout for Two uses video conferencing over broadband to create a virtual 'glass wall' players have to break down with a ball." According to researcher Dr Stefan Agamanolis: "It was designed... to show how remote strangers can bond and feel more at ease with each other more rapidly when they have to exert themselves physically, rather than when relying on 'traditional' electronic communication, like instant messaging or e-mail", and he further explained: "When you get into that state of arousal, you are more likely to be able to bond socially with other people around you."

Negative Effects

[ArmenTanzarian]

The article mentions that people compete though. Yeah, you may bond with the guy on your team, but what happens when you develop speedy rivalries with your competitors? How many times have you been accused of doing something "cheap" in an online game?

Or what happens when your team starts losing and it's one guy's fault? Not exactly a teambuilding exercise in that case.

Lenny: We won! And it was all thanks to team work!
Karl: Yeah, my teamwork.