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Exploring Multiview UI Layouts and Placement Strategies for Collaborative Sensemaking in Virtual Reality

Tamzid Hossain, Md. Fahimul Islam, Farida Chowdhury

TL;DR

This study addresses how pairs organize multiview UI layouts for collaborative sensemaking in remote VR. Using a Unity-based VR collaboration platform, 20 participants perform five tasks (Initial, Search, Comparison, Classification, General) across three difficulties, while researchers analyze layout geometry, collaboration strategies, and workload via NASA-TLX. Key findings show a strong preference for semi-circular window arrangements, frequent layout reorganizations, and higher cognitive load on harder tasks, with document type modulating task load (image+text aiding comparisons, graphs aiding classification). The work contributes concrete design guidelines for VR multiview systems—advocating semi-circular and hybrid layouts, awareness cues, automatic layout aids, and scalable font/size controls—to support effective remote collaboration and brainstorming in immersive environments.

Abstract

Immersive technologies expand the potential for collaborative sense-making and visual analysis via head-worn displays (HWDs), offering customizable, high-resolution perspectives of a shared visualization space. In such an immersive environment, window/view management is crucial for collaborative sense-making tasks. However, the role of document types (graphs, images) and pair dynamics in collaborative layout formation has rarely been explored. We conducted a user study with 20 participants to explore how pair of users organize multiview windows in remote immersive workspaces during tasks such as search, comparison, and classification. Findings show that users often arrange windows in a semi-circular layout for pair collaboration. Image+text documents reduce mental and temporal demand in comparison tasks, while graphs lower task load for classification. Conflicts in window selection arise mainly in complex comparisons, with frequent discussion and reorganization during difficult tasks. Based on these insights, we propose design guidelines for multiview systems that support VR collaboration and brainstorming.

Exploring Multiview UI Layouts and Placement Strategies for Collaborative Sensemaking in Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This study addresses how pairs organize multiview UI layouts for collaborative sensemaking in remote VR. Using a Unity-based VR collaboration platform, 20 participants perform five tasks (Initial, Search, Comparison, Classification, General) across three difficulties, while researchers analyze layout geometry, collaboration strategies, and workload via NASA-TLX. Key findings show a strong preference for semi-circular window arrangements, frequent layout reorganizations, and higher cognitive load on harder tasks, with document type modulating task load (image+text aiding comparisons, graphs aiding classification). The work contributes concrete design guidelines for VR multiview systems—advocating semi-circular and hybrid layouts, awareness cues, automatic layout aids, and scalable font/size controls—to support effective remote collaboration and brainstorming in immersive environments.

Abstract

Immersive technologies expand the potential for collaborative sense-making and visual analysis via head-worn displays (HWDs), offering customizable, high-resolution perspectives of a shared visualization space. In such an immersive environment, window/view management is crucial for collaborative sense-making tasks. However, the role of document types (graphs, images) and pair dynamics in collaborative layout formation has rarely been explored. We conducted a user study with 20 participants to explore how pair of users organize multiview windows in remote immersive workspaces during tasks such as search, comparison, and classification. Findings show that users often arrange windows in a semi-circular layout for pair collaboration. Image+text documents reduce mental and temporal demand in comparison tasks, while graphs lower task load for classification. Conflicts in window selection arise mainly in complex comparisons, with frequent discussion and reorganization during difficult tasks. Based on these insights, we propose design guidelines for multiview systems that support VR collaboration and brainstorming.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 27 sections, 8 figures, 6 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related Work
  3. Multiview Management in Immersive Space
  4. Collaboration in Immersive Environment
  5. Summary
  6. User Study
  7. Apparatus and VR App
  8. Tasks
  9. Initial Layout Construction
  10. Search
  11. Comparison
  12. Classification
  13. General/Final Layout
  14. Participants
  15. Procedure
  16. ...and 12 more sections

Figures (8)

  • Figure 1: All task variations and their corresponding windows for the study
  • Figure 2: Layout generated by participants: A) Semi-circular layout (vertical and horizontal) and B) Planner Layout (vertical and horizontal)
  • Figure 3: Layout generated by participants: Hybrid and mixed semi-circular
  • Figure 4: Number of layout patterns generated for each task type and difficulty (E = easy, M = moderate, A = advanced)
  • Figure 5: The timeline shows how each group's video recording was coded in accordance with the identified categories.
  • ...and 3 more figures