How can you create user-friendly interfaces for the HTC Vive?

I agree, the target audience is extremely important. And I am personally not a fan of the Gaze input - causes too much head movements. I prefer to keep the controls simple with single trigger click on both the controllers alone as the select option for the user. Also , I’ve used onboarding scenes for the user to practice the controls before they jump in the VR module .

Knowing your VR audience isn't a guessing game, it's the blueprint to success. Imagine interfaces crafted for seasoned explorers or welcoming guides for curious newbies. Cater to their reality cravings or artistic desires. Design for nimble controllers or effortless eye commands. By understanding your audience, you avoid missteps and build interfaces that feel like a welcoming handshake, not a frustrating puzzle. It's the key to unlocking intuitive interactions and forging a lasting connection in the VR world.

Bad UI can absolutely destroy a project especially if it doesn't fit in the environment you are building and the users don't know how to use it. if your target audience is after immersion try and blend the UI into the world in a way that makes sense like on a monitor or tablet I would avoid gaze input all together unless your headset has eye tracking. Controllers with laser pointers work for most people and only takes a few seconds to teach.

Para projetar a melhor interface de usuário possível, é fundamental conhecer bem público-alvo. Mas também é extremamente importante entender o contexto. Em qual contexto a aplica??o VR será utilizada? Será na casa do usuário? Será em um ambiente industrial/operacional? Ou será em um evento? O usuário utilizará a aplica??o sentado? Ou conseguirá se deslocar? Se tiver deslocamento, o espa?o é amplo? Entendendo este contexto, podemos projetar uma interface que se adapte bem ao ambiente e que se adapte ao nível de capacidade tecnológica do público que irá utilizar.

To create user-friendly interfaces for the HTC Vive, adhere to ergonomic design principles, ensuring buttons and menus are easily accessible and intuitive to navigate. Utilize hand-tracked controllers effectively, mapping gestures and interactions to natural movements. Implement clear visual feedback to confirm user actions and guide them through the interface. Keep interface elements concise and avoid clutter to maintain immersion. Test extensively with diverse users to identify and address usability issues. Leverage VR development frameworks like SteamVR Unity Toolkit for streamlined interface design and implementation. Regularly iterate based on user feedback to refine and optimize the interface for an intuitive and immersive experience.

There are two popular ways users are interacting with UI. First is the laser pointer method where the controllers have a laser pointer that appears when hovering UI that act as a cursor and the user can pull the trigger to click. Most entry level VR apps use this method as pretty straight forward and is easy to implement. The second option is where the user pushes their hand into the UI and presses the UI like a button. UI that is integrated to look like part of the world tends to use this method as it doesn't break immersion as much as point and click.

In the realm of VR for anxiety treatment, it's crucial to meticulously assess input methods. Take, for instance, anxiety triggers: Motion sensitivity: Users susceptible to motion sickness should be spared from excessive employment of movement-based interactions. Opting for gaze-based options could be more favorable in such cases. Overstimulation: Providing adjustable sensitivity for controller interactions and implementing visual cues can mitigate the risk of overwhelming anxious users. This adaptability can enhance the user experience and effectiveness of anxiety treatment in VR settings.

Always use spatial UI even for HUD UI. Any other form of UI can make the UI appear as if its stuck on the users nose and cause disorientation. Engines such as Unity have special tools that make HUD UI displays for VR much easier to build but i generally recommend putting that UI Somewhere else on the player like their wrist.

Tailor UI to specific anxiety types: Social anxiety: Design safe spaces within the VR environment where users can practice social interactions gradually, using spatial UI elements to represent avatars or cues without triggering overwhelming proximity. Generalized anxiety: Offer customizable UI options, allowing users to adjust element size, distance, or even switch between world-locked and head-locked displays based on their comfort level. Phobias: Use spatial UI creatively to create gradual exposure therapy experiences. For example, start with distant representations of phobias and gradually bring them closer in a controlled, VR environment.

As my previous input, when designing VR for anxiety treatment, prioritize user comfort and safety: Limit rapid movements and disorienting transitions: ease users into the experience and avoid sudden changes in camera angles or environments. Offer adjustable comfort settings: allow users to control movement speed, field of view, or visual effects to minimize potential motion sickness or discomfort. Provide clear and easily accessible exit options: users should be able to leave the experience gracefully whenever needed.

To make things easier you could buy a modern-looking UI pack from your game engines asset store and customize it to your needs.

VR allows you to think outside of the box when it comes to UI design so instead of just getting the user to click a button, think of another ways the user could do the task such as picking up an object and using it as a key, maybe have the user wave at a NPC, maybe input voice to text commands? The possibilities are endless.

Creating user-friendly interfaces for the HTC Vive involves several key considerations. First, prioritize intuitive navigation by utilizing familiar gestures and controls, such as hand motions and button presses, to interact with elements in the virtual environment. Clear visual cues and feedback are essential for guiding users seamlessly through menus and interactions. Minimize unnecessary complexity and streamline the interface to avoid overwhelming users, ensuring that information and options are presented in a digestible manner. Additionally, optimize performance to maintain a smooth and responsive experience, enhancing immersion and usability.