Exploring the Design of Virtual Reality Museums to Support Remote Visitation With Older Adults

TL;DR

The challenges of and preferences for VR museum visits among older adults are investigated through a user-centered participatory workshop and potential design principles for enhancing the accessibility of VR museums for older adults are discussed.

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) museums provide immersive visiting experiences. Despite growing efforts in VR museum design optimization, limited research addresses its efficacy for older adults. We sought to investigate the challenges of and preferences for VR museum visits among older adults through a user-centered participatory workshop. Our preliminary findings illuminate issues regarding spatial navigation, interpretive descriptions, collective aspiration for augmented multi-sensory interactions, and imagined content visualization. Based on our preliminary findings, we discuss potential design principles for enhancing the accessibility of VR museums for older adults.

Figures (2)

• Figure 1: Participatory workshop process: a) A researcher conducted a background interview about participants' demographic information and introduced VR equipment to them; b) A participant was experiencing the VR museum; c) After the VR experience session, a researcher was interviewing two participants to understand their challenges, preferences, and expectations during VR museum visitation.
• Figure 2: Participants interacting with the exhibits during the VR experience: a) Clicking the button to get audio narration; b) Getting into the VR scene of the world-famous painting Mona Lisa; c) Touching the particle effect of exhibits through their avatars.