Virtual reality (VR) is a powerful medium that can immerse users in different worlds and scenarios. However, not all users have the same preferences, needs, and abilities when it comes to VR interactions. How can you tailor VR interactions to specific users and create more engaging and accessible experiences? Here are some tips and best practices to consider.
Before designing any VR interaction, you need to understand who your target users are and what they want to achieve in VR. Conduct user research, create personas, and define user scenarios to identify their goals, motivations, challenges, and expectations. You also need to consider their level of VR experience, familiarity with VR controllers, and potential accessibility issues. Knowing your audience will help you design VR interactions that are relevant, intuitive, and satisfying for them.
Consider implementing user feedback loops after VR interactions are deployed. Collect data on user behavior and preferences during interactions, and use this information to refine and optimize the VR experience continually. Periodically revisit user-profiles and scenarios to account for changes in user demographics or technological advancements. This iterative process ensures that your VR interactions stay aligned with evolving user needs and technological landscapes.
For the right VR interaction (or a selection of interactions), the target group must first be analyzed. Is the application accessible to a small number of users (a specific, restricted target group) or a large number of users (an exhibition, a trade fair or B2C in general)? Do user barriers need to be taken into account (left and right-handed, restricted range of movement, standing, sitting or both)? Is motion sickness an issue in terms of user interaction or should this be minimized to avoid any risk? The ideal case would of course be to provide all interaction methods for each target group, but this is usually too much for an application and can also overwhelm the user. It is therefore better to set the interaction as the default.
VR interactions can be classified into three modes: direct, indirect, and abstract. Direct interactions are when users manipulate objects or environments with their hands or controllers, such as grabbing, throwing, or pushing. Indirect interactions are when users use controllers or menus to trigger actions or commands, such as pointing, selecting, or teleporting. Abstract interactions are when users use gestures, voice, or eye tracking to control VR elements, such as waving, speaking, or gazing. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the context and the user. You need to choose the right interaction mode that suits the purpose, complexity, and feedback of the VR interaction, as well as the user's comfort and preference.
The first question is whether controller control or hand tracking - or both handling methods. Based on this, which locomotion method should be available in the application (if the option is available, the user should be given the choice, as the VR experience should be designed to be as pleasant as possible for the individual - some users prefer teleportation due to susceptibility to motion sickness, others prefer free locomotion due to better immersion). The interaction is determined on the basis of this - here again, it depends on how the goal of the application is best achieved - i.e. by physical grasping, clicking, blinking during eye tracking, voice control, etc.
Consider conducting usability testing with representative users for each interaction mode. Gather insights on user preferences, comfort levels, and performance metrics for direct, indirect, and abstract interactions. Analyze the results to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each mode in your specific VR context. This data-driven approach will inform your decision-making process in choosing the most effective interaction mode for your VR application, ensuring a user-friendly and engaging experience.
Affordances are the visual cues that indicate how users can interact with VR objects or environments. Feedback is the response that users receive after performing an interaction. Both are essential for creating effective and enjoyable VR interactions. You need to provide clear affordances and feedback that match the user's expectations and the VR context. For example, you can use colors, shapes, textures, sounds, or animations to show what objects are interactive, how they can be manipulated, and what effects they have. You can also use haptic, audio, or visual feedback to confirm the user's actions and outcomes, and to enhance the sense of presence and immersion.
Feedback plays a pivotal role in VR applications within healthcare. It allows us to gauge the patient's level of engagement. Moreover, it assists patients in focusing better within scenarios, particularly aiding mental health interventions by enabling them to complete programs without distractions.
One of the challenges of VR interaction design is to balance realism and simplicity. Realism is the degree to which the VR interaction mimics the real-world interaction, while simplicity is the degree to which the VR interaction reduces the cognitive and physical load for the user. Both are important for creating immersive and usable VR interactions, but they can also conflict with each other. For example, a realistic VR interaction may require more steps, skills, or accuracy from the user, while a simple VR interaction may sacrifice some fidelity, consistency, or naturalness. You need to balance realism and simplicity based on the user's needs, goals, and preferences, as well as the VR context and content.
To address the challenge of balancing realism and simplicity in VR interaction design, consider employing iterative design cycles. Begin with prototyping different interaction approaches that lean towards realism and simplicity. Conduct usability testing to gauge user preferences and performance metrics. Iterate based on the feedback, finding a sweet spot that aligns with user needs, goals, and preferences. This cyclical process allows you to fine-tune the VR interaction, achieving a harmonious blend of realism and simplicity that enhances immersion while minimizing cognitive and physical load for users.
In VR, as in general UX / UI design, the simplest and most straightforward design is the best. In XR, hand tracking for physical actions or eye tracking if you only want to work with eye contact (whereby the latter in turn has a significant influence on the immersion balance) is clearly the standard, because acting with our hands is the most natural form of interaction for us. However, since in most cases (if only due to the current state of technology) controller control is always used in parallel, the same applies here: The ideal case is one-button control. Is it not possible? Then you analyse if you really need these functions. Keep it short and simple (a guideline that can often be applied outside the VR environment).
The best way to tailor VR interactions to specific users is to test and iterate your design with real users. User testing can help you evaluate the usability, effectiveness, and satisfaction of your VR interactions, and identify any issues or improvements. You can use various methods, such as observation, interviews, surveys, or analytics, to collect user feedback and data. You can also use different tools, such as prototypes, simulators, or analytics platforms, to test your VR interactions in different stages and environments. Testing and iterating your VR interactions can help you create more user-centered and user-friendly VR experiences.
.A user test should ideally involve 20 people or more who are completely unbiased before the test, i.e. have not yet tried out the application in the best case scenario. The minimum number is 3 new users, but it can be assumed that there will be three completely different feedback approaches. The higher the number of testers, the more opinions. Regardless of the number of users, it is always important to filter out the quintessence of the feedback. As this will usually be very vague, it makes sense to think about specific questions that can be asked after testing, such as "Did you feel nauseous?" or "Did you have problems moving around"? The more specific your own analysis tools are prepared, the better the test feedback can be analyzed.
To tailor VR interactions to specific users, leverage user profiles and preferences. Implement adaptive algorithms that adjust aspects like control sensitivity, locomotion options, and interface elements based on individual user behaviors and feedback. Incorporate user testing and analytics to continually refine these adaptations and ensure a personalized and comfortable VR experience.