Virtual Reality Inclusion: A Scoping Review Reveals Critical Gaps in Design and Adoption
Category: User-Centred Design · Effect: Moderate effect · Year: 2023
Existing virtual reality research has not adequately addressed the concept of inclusion, which encompasses the active involvement of diverse user groups in the entire lifecycle of VR technology.
Design Takeaway
Designers must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and actively seek to understand and integrate the needs and perspectives of diverse user groups throughout the VR design and development process.
Why It Matters
Understanding and addressing inclusion in VR design is crucial for ensuring equitable access and meaningful engagement for all users. Neglecting this aspect can lead to technologies that inadvertently exclude or marginalize specific demographics, limiting their potential impact and adoption.
Key Finding
A review of virtual reality research shows that inclusion is not a well-studied area, with limited research focusing on how diverse groups like people with disabilities, different genders, and age groups, or specific communities like Indigenous Peoples, are involved in VR's creation and use.
Key Findings
- The concept of inclusion in VR is underdeveloped in current research.
- Key target groups for inclusion studies include individuals with disabilities, varying genders, and different age groups.
- Community-based design, particularly with Indigenous communities, represents an important avenue for inclusive VR.
- Generic and group-specific barriers to VR inclusion have been identified.
- Significant research gaps exist across all identified categories.
Research Evidence
Aim: To systematically review and categorize existing research on inclusion in virtual reality to identify barriers, research gaps, and future directions for inclusive VR development.
Method: Scoping Review
Procedure: The researchers conducted a comprehensive search of virtual reality literature, categorizing studies based on target user groups (ability, gender, age) and community-based design approaches, with a specific focus on Indigenous Peoples. They also reviewed literature on user modeling in technology adoption and design.
Context: Virtual Reality Technology Development and Application
Design Principle
Design for inclusion by actively engaging diverse user groups throughout the entire product lifecycle.
How to Apply
When designing VR experiences, conduct user research with a broad range of potential users, including those with disabilities, different age groups, and from various cultural backgrounds. Consider co-design workshops and participatory design methods.
Limitations
The review may be limited by the scope of the search terms and databases used, and the rapid evolution of VR technology means new inclusion challenges may emerge.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: This study looked at how much research has been done on making virtual reality (VR) welcoming and usable for everyone. It found that not enough research focuses on including people with different abilities, genders, ages, or cultural backgrounds in VR design and use.
Why This Matters: Understanding inclusion in VR is important for your design project because it helps you create products that more people can use and enjoy, making your design more successful and ethical.
Critical Thinking: Given the identified research gaps, what are the most pressing ethical considerations for designers working on VR technologies today?
IA-Ready Paragraph: This scoping review highlights a significant gap in virtual reality research concerning user inclusion, indicating that the active involvement of diverse groups in VR technology's adoption, use, design, and development is not adequately studied. This underscores the critical need for designers to proactively address potential barriers and ensure equitable access and meaningful engagement for all potential users in their design projects.
Project Tips
- When designing a VR experience, think about who might be excluded and how you can make it more inclusive.
- Consider researching the specific needs of different user groups (e.g., people with visual impairments, older adults) for your VR project.
How to Use in IA
- Cite this review when discussing the importance of user diversity and the need for inclusive design in your VR project's background or justification.
Examiner Tips
- Demonstrate an awareness of potential user exclusion in your design choices and justify how your design addresses these issues.
Independent Variable: ["User group (ability, gender, age, cultural background)","Inclusion strategies in VR design and development"]
Dependent Variable: ["Level of user involvement in VR design","Barriers to VR adoption and use","Research gaps in VR inclusion"]
Controlled Variables: ["Type of VR technology being studied","Methodology of the reviewed research papers"]
Strengths
- Provides a broad overview of the existing literature on VR inclusion.
- Categorizes research by specific user groups, offering structured insights.
Critical Questions
- How can designers move beyond simply identifying barriers to actively creating inclusive VR experiences?
- What are the long-term societal implications of a VR landscape that is not designed inclusively?
Extended Essay Application
- An Extended Essay could explore the specific challenges and opportunities for designing inclusive VR for a particular underrepresented community, drawing on this review's findings about research gaps.
Source
Inclusion in Virtual Reality Technology: A Scoping Review · arXiv (Cornell University) · 2023 · 10.48550/arxiv.2310.15289