Heuristic evaluation of virtual reality applications
Alistair Sutcliffe, Brian Gault · Interacting with Computers · 2004
This paper presents a heuristic method for evaluating virtual environment (VE) user interfaces. The method is based on Nielsen's [Usability Inspection Methods, 1994] usability heuristics, extended by VE-specific principles proposed by Sutcliffe and Kaur [Behaviour and Information Technology 19 (2000) 415–426]. Twelve heuristics are presented which address usability and presence issues. An inspection-based evaluation method is described and illustrated with three usability case study assessments, the last of which rates the applicability and validity of the heuristics by several evaluators. Use of the method uncovered several usability problems and trapped the most serious errors. Finally, VE applications integrating measures of usability and presence are discussed.