Part 1: Designing a Better Future for Virtual Reality: Insights from my Master's Dissertation

This post is the first of a series of articles breaking down my findings from my master’s dissertation, Social Interactions in the Metaverse.

Virtual reality has come a long way since its early days as a niche technology for gamers and tech enthusiasts. Today, VR is being used in a wide range of applications, from education and training to healthcare and therapy. And of course, we are all familiar with the latest and greatest iteration of VR—the metaverse. Particularly Meta’s capital ‘M’ Metaverse. Again, this concept isn’t new, but as this technology has become more accessible to everyday consumers, it has created new social experiences that were previously impossible.

I chose to study this topic for my master’s dissertation at City, University of London because it was an area that I didn’t know a lot about, but wanted to understand. So what better way than to throw myself into virtual reality with an intense 7 months of research? After countless hours exploring virtual worlds and conducting user interviews, I was excited to discover some fascinating social dynamics in the metaverse.

The potential for creating immersive experiences beyond gaming has become more apparent as the technology continues to develop. This development has also revealed the challenges associated with creating engaging and safe social spaces in virtual reality. My dissertation set out to explore social interactions in virtual reality and the metaverse, uncovering insights about how users experienced VR and what factors improved their experience. As part of my research, I applied observations and user interviews to uncover key themes related to safety, immersion, and user-centered design.

Safety in Virtual Reality

One of the key takeaways from my research is that safety should be a top priority for designers and developers working on virtual reality platforms. Virtual reality can be an incredibly immersive experience that blurs the lines between physical and digital spaces. This can be both exciting and potentially dangerous if not properly managed. To address this issue, designers need to take steps to prevent harassment and abuse in virtual reality platforms by implementing clear guidelines for behavior and providing tools for reporting inappropriate conduct. Giving users the power to control their situation, particularly when it comes to how they are able to interact with others, is paramount in creating a safe and positive virtual experience.

A Space for All

In addition to safety concerns, inclusivity is another important consideration when designing social spaces in virtual reality. Virtual reality has the potential to create new opportunities for social interaction that were previously impossible due to physical barriers or other limitations. However, these opportunities will only be realized if designers take steps to ensure that their platforms are accessible to all users regardless of their background or abilities.

To achieve this goal, designers need to adopt a user-centered approach that takes into account the diverse needs and preferences of their users. This includes the types of experiences available to users—*cough* users who aren’t gamers *cough.* As exciting as it is to create this immersive technology, it would be irresponsible to create technology for technology’s sake. Developers and designers need to be taking a human-first approach when creating these experiences. This means we need to be designing social spaces that are flexible and adaptable, allowing users to customize their experience based on their individual preferences. It also means prioritizing inclusivity in all aspects of the design process, from the choice of avatars to the types of activities available in the virtual world.

Factors of Immersion

My research found that immersion is the biggest reason why users want to participate in virtual reality. The factors that create an immersive experience for users can be highlighted and augmented in order to achieve that level of immersion that users desire. These factors include things like avatars, graphics and details, and unlimited exploration and movement. There has been a lot of focus on creating realistic-looking avatars to achieve a higher level of immersion in virtual reality. We’re all familiar with the legless avatar debacle. While realistic avatar are helpful in facilitating interactions, other details such as mannerisms, shadows, and movements may be more successful in creating an engaging environment.

These details extend beyond avatars into the virtual world itself. When small details like rippling water, blowing leaves, and moving shadows are experienced in virtual reality, that line between the real world is blurred and the virtual experience becomes enjoyable for the user because they feel like they are present.

Throughout this series, I will further break down my insights into how we can create safe, inclusive, and engaging social spaces in virtual reality. By taking these insights into account when designing new platforms and experiences, we can help ensure that VR is a space that benefits everyone. The future of virtual reality is bright, but it's up to us to make sure that it's a future that prioritizes safety, inclusivity, and user-centered design.

Stay tuned for more insights from my dissertation on the future of virtual reality!