A Usability Study of Virtual Reality Systems: On Best Practices for User-Centered Design in Virtual Reality Gaming Interfaces
Tabitha Frahm · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · 2019
In an effort to gather a list of best practices for user-centered design in virtual reality gaming interfaces, this study combines evidence from industry anecdotal observations, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing with three of the leading virtual reality platforms on the market: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a variety of usability scales and questionnaires, think-aloud tasks, observation, and semi-structured interviews. The results of the study suggest that immersion is an effective design feature across all interfaces, however the lack of real-world awareness resulting from immersion can be a major usability concern. Pain-points included controller design and button mapping, physiological comfort, and adapting to new methods of movement and interaction required in 3D virtual environments. The findings emphasize the need to prioritize learnability in the design of VR systems. The paper concludes with fifteen guidelines for designing user-friendly virtual reality interfaces.