MySpace: Metaphor Design of Personal Space Visualization in Social VR

Personal space plays a critical role in user privacy, safety, and comfort within social virtual reality (VR). While prior work has examined its spatial properties and protective mechanisms, existing systems typically rely on simple geometric boundaries or basic visual indicators that lack expressive and intuitive representation of personal space. We present MySpace, a toolkit that enables users to customize their personal space using expressive, metaphor-based visualizations in immersive environments. MySpace introduces a design framework that combines metaphor and visibility modulation. Users can choose from three metaphor categories—virtual forms (area, bubble), everyday objects (fence, umbrella), and natural phenomena (fog, falling leaves)—each offering a distinct representation style and emotional resonance. Visibility is modulated through properties such as opacity, motion, and spatial extent to suit individual preferences. Implemented in Unity with real-time customization capabilities, our demo showcases multi-user scenarios where users can dynamically adjust their personal space representations. By allowing users to personalize how their personal space is visually expressed and perceived, MySpace supports intuitive communication of spatial boundaries, promotes social awareness, and enables safer, more comfortable interactions in shared virtual environments.