How can you design VR for natural user input?

1 Use hand tracking

Hand tracking is a technology that allows users to interact with VR using their own hands, without any controllers or gloves. This can make VR more natural and accessible, as users can use gestures, motions, and expressions that they are familiar with. Hand tracking can also enhance the sense of presence and immersion, as users can see and manipulate virtual objects with their own hands. However, hand tracking also poses some challenges, such as accuracy, occlusion, and latency. You need to test and optimize your hand tracking system, and provide clear feedback and guidance to the users.

3 Support voice and gaze input

Voice and gaze input are two other methods that can make VR more natural and user-friendly. Voice input is when users speak or make sounds to interact with VR, such as giving commands, asking questions, or chatting with other users or characters. Voice input can make VR more expressive and conversational, and can also reduce the need for menus or buttons. However, voice input also requires good speech recognition, natural language processing, and voice feedback. You need to ensure that your voice input system can understand and respond to the users accurately and naturally. Gaze input is when users look or stare at something to interact with VR, such as selecting, highlighting, or activating objects or options. Gaze input can make VR more accessible and effortless, and can also complement other input methods. However, gaze input also requires good eye tracking, calibration, and feedback. You need to ensure that your gaze input system can detect and follow the users' eye movements correctly and smoothly.

4 Design for feedback and affordance

Feedback and affordance are two important principles that can help you design VR for natural user input. Feedback is when you provide users with information or reactions to their input, such as sounds, visuals, or vibrations. Feedback can make VR more responsive and satisfying, and can also help users learn and improve their input skills. You need to provide feedback that is consistent, timely, and appropriate for your VR experience. Affordance is when you design objects or elements that suggest how users can interact with them, such as shapes, colors, or textures. Affordance can make VR more intuitive and discoverable, and can also help users avoid confusion or frustration. You need to design affordance that is clear, realistic, and relevant for your VR experience.

5 Test and iterate

The last tip on how to design VR for natural user input is to test and iterate. Testing is when you evaluate your VR experience with real users, using methods such as user testing, usability testing, or playtesting. Testing can help you identify and fix any problems or issues with your input methods, such as errors, bugs, or glitches. Testing can also help you collect and analyze user feedback, such as opinions, preferences, or suggestions. Iterating is when you make changes or improvements to your VR experience based on your testing results. Iterating can help you refine and optimize your input methods, such as adding, removing, or modifying features or functions. Iterating can also help you enhance and polish your VR experience, such as adjusting, balancing, or fine-tuning aspects or details. You need to test and iterate your VR experience frequently and systematically, and use data and evidence to guide your decisions.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?