Study Details

All nine participants began their VR experiences within the first photo of Version A, which begins inside Mike’s studio. The participants were asked to look around and provide their first impressions.

The moderator was able to follow along with the participants and ask questions related to each task as they moved through the experience. The moderator asked the participants to describe what they are thinking, what they trying to do or wishing they could do, and mirroring what the participants saw onto a monitor.

The tasks were completed in different orders based upon how the participant decided to move through the experience. Users either naturally did the following tasks while exploring the interface or were prompted to complete them:

• Find more information about an item (i.e., open an informational display).

• Close the informational display.

• Move to any other location within the experience.

• Move through a specific portal on a computer screen in the experience.

• React to audio in the experience.

• Navigate to a specific location in the experience (Suzy’s backyard).

• Navigate to an error page within the experience.

As participants completed these tasks, they were asked follow-up questions about how the experience of the task made them feel, what their expectations were for each task, and if they were able to complete the task to their satisfaction.

After the participants were satisfied with viewing Version A, the moderator asked for the headset to load Version B in the web browser. This time, all participants started at a home screen. Participants were again asked to look around and provide their first impressions.

Again, a majority of the participants were eager to start interacting and moving around the experience. The moderator allowed the participants to lead the session by interacting with the experience and doing what came naturally. If necessary, the moderator prompted the participants to do the following tasks:

• Select a location to visit.

• Move to another location within the experience.

• Is there a way to get back to the first screen?

• Please visit Suzy’s backyard and describe what you see this time.

As participants completed these tasks, they were asked follow-up questions about how the experience of the task made them feel, what their expectations were for each task, and if they were able to complete the task to their satisfaction.

Throughout the entire session, moderators would check with each participant to see how they were feeling. We encouraged them to take breaks if desired. All participants had at least one break when we switched from Version A to Version B. Five participants declined to take an additional break, but of those five participants, two needed to take off the headset for technical reasons or to refit the headset.