Naer Toolbar Redesign - Usability Research Synthesis

Research report on Naer VR app toolbar redesign -Usability testing

1. Research Report
Parima Bajracharya
UXR

2. Background
Purpose of Research:
To validate the effectiveness of the redesigned toolbar in the Naer VR app.
Key Focus:
Improved visibility, accessibility of the toolbar and icons, and efficiency of the new
wristband activation method.

3. Research Goals
8 Are the tools and their icons easily recognizable and intuitive to
use.
8 How does the redesigned toolbar compare to previous
interfaces in terms of usability and functionality.
8 Which aspects of the redesigned toolbar did you find most
helpful.
8 What are the key areas for improvement to enhance the toolbar’s
accessibility and support for collaborative tasks?

4. Methods & Approach
Usability testing,
to assess the visibility and clarity of the toolbar and its
icons, aiming to identify and address any usability concerns.
Q Participants first viewed the toolbar on the
existing Naer app, then tested the VR
prototype for comparison5
Q Participants were asked to identify and select
each tool from the redesigned toolbar to
ensure icons are intuitive and visually distinct5
Q Participants were asked to describe what they
see and what they do out loud.
Tasks:

5. Questionnaire
& How easily were you able to locate the tool you needed
& Were there any tools or icons that you found difficult to recognize
& How intuitive was it to interact with the toolbar
& Which aspects of the redesigned toolbar did you find most helpful
& Was there anything about the toolbar that you found confusing or
frustrating
& How does this toolbar design compare to your experience with other
VR interfaces
& Were there any tools or functions you expected to find but didn’t
& What suggestions do they have for how we could improve the
toolbar's accessibility?

6. Key Insights

7. Key Insights
4/5
Participants
Easily recognized tool icons and read the tool names
J "The names on the toolbar are very clear, I didn’t have to
squint or guess." - Stephani<
J "It was easy for me to figure out what the tools were
without reading their names." - PujaH
J “The icons stand out well against the dark background."
- Ray

8. Key Insights
Appreciated the hover effect on toolbar
4/5
Participants
A "Hovering over a tool gave me a clear indication of
what I was selecting. Loved it." - Zeyne.
A "The hover effect helped a lot, I knew exactly where I
was pointing.”- Ra/
A "I really like the colored background when i hover over
the tools" - Pujan

9. Key Insights
2/5
Participants
Reported issues with feedback on tools
F "The sharpie didn’t show much change when selected,
which was confusing." - Puja;
F "It was a little confusing when different tools had different
effects when selected.” - Pooja

10. Key Insights
1/5
Participants
Expressed confusion recognizing the Laser Pointer
D "I had to double-check the laser pointer, but the rest were
straightforward." - Pooja

11. Recommendations
Redesign the visual cues for selected tools to ensure they
are distinctly noticeable.
Rationale: Participants like Pujan expressed confusion due to minimal
changes in the tool's appearance upon selection.
Ensure that hover effects are consistent and informative
across all toolbar items.
Rationale: The hover effect was praised for its clarity and helpfulness
in tool recognition.

12. Recommendations
Implement navigation aids such as 'Next' and 'Back'
buttons to facilitate easier access to tools.
Rationale: Two participants appreciated these features for reducing
the need to turn their heads excessively, suggesting that enhancing
these aids could benefit all users.
Develop Clearer Documentation and Tooltips for each
tool.
Rationale: Although tool recognition was generally high, instances
like Pooja’s second look at the laser pointer indicate that some users
could benefit from additional context or information, particularly
when encountering less familiar or more complex tools.

13. Interview Recording
Research Pla
Research Synthesi
Lo-Fi Wireframes
Useful Links

14. Thank You!
Questions?

15. User Perceptions of Lo-Fi Solutions & Prototypes
6/9 Participants found the in-app keyboard for sticky notes a significant improvement in text input.
9/9 Participants recognized the need a trash icon for content deletion.
8/9 Participants found the implementation of undo/redo buttons to be a crucial feature, allowing
for easier error correction and editing.
4/9 Participants expressed a desire for a more comprehensive toolbar for its potential to streamline
workflows,
5/9 Participants were favorable towards the idea of Quick Teleportation options for efficient
navigation within the virtual environment.

16. Participant used
both hands to
access tool bar.
Participant used
mic as they would a
pen to write.
Participant assumed
the sponge would
erase text on sticky
note.
Participant confused
voice typing with
voice assistant.

17. Recommendations - contd.
H[Simplify Navigation: Introduce a shortcut to teleport to a
specific spot in the environment.
9[Streamline Sticky Note Editing: Add basic text editing
features such as undo, redo, and erase to the sticky notes
function, making it as simple as using physical sticky
notesT
B[Accessibility Enhancements: Increase the contrast and
size of text and icons to make them easier to see and use
for all users, especially those with visual impairments.