Naer VR: Advanced Research and Usability Testing Project

Research Synthesis for Naer VR

1. Research Report
Parima Bajracharya | Buvana Sundar | Tanisha Shah
UXR PM UXD

2. Identify and understand the specific accessibility and usability issues
present in the current interface
Gather insights from users on their needs and preferences regarding VR
productivity applications
Explore solutions that effectively support collaborative productivity.
Background
The aim of our research was to:

3. Research Goals
) What drives users to adopt Nær for their design processes
) How effectively can users navigate and utilize the tools on Nær
) What usability challenges do users find within Nær?
) How does Naer, a collaborative VR app, compare against
alternatives like FigJam/ShapesXR
) Do users understand the intended function of interactive objects
in Nær?
) What are some potential new interactions
) Assess user reception towards solutions aimed at improving
Nær’s usability and satisfaction.
. (icon visibility, voice input limitations, etc.:
(e.g. cubes:

4. Methods & Approach
Interviews,
to grasp how Nær integrates into users' design
routines, pinpoint enhancements to align the app with
their needs.
Usability testing,
to observe firsthand how users navigate Nær, identify
pain points and gather insights on possible
improvements.

5. Questionnaire
- Can you describe your ideal collaborative environment for
working with your remote team?0
- What features/functionalities would be most important to
you
- How does your experience as a designer shape your
approach to using VR collaboration tools like Nær
- What features for collaboration do you find most enjoyable
and engaging
- Biggest challenges you face in using Nær for design
collaboration, and how do you overcome them
- What suggestions do you have for improvement?

6. Questionnaire -contd.
, How do you find the visibility and usability of tool icons in
Naer
, Describe your use and efficiency of voice typing for sticky
notes
, Preferred additional input methods for improved
accessibility
, Most valuable features for collaboration and productivity
, Desired features or functionalities for Naer's future
versions?

How do you perceive the purpose and impact of cubes in
Naer?

7. Key Insights

8. Key Insights
7/9
Participants
Expressed difficulty/inefficiency accessing the tool bar
G "I just couldn’t keep the tool bar in front of me as I wanted
to." - Namrat6
G "I used both my hands to display the tool bar and my
wrists started aching a little." - BretL
G "I kept looking at my palms instead of the back of my
hands." - Zhibek

9. Key Insights
Want more Intuitive Sticky Note Editing Features
6/9
Participants
P “I need a way to erase my mistakes, not just start over”
- BretL
P “I wanted to erase something on the sticky note and
assumed the sponge would do the trick.”-ZhibeI
P “I was saying ‘Erase’ into the mic assuming it works as
voice AI.” - Ankita

10. Key Insights
5/9
Participants
Confused about the Cubes’ purpose & potential for Interaction
P "I figured the cubes were for creating designs, but we
can’t even stuck resize them or change shapes." - Eri?
P "I thought the cubes are for bonking a colleague on the
head when you’re bored." - Ashi3
P "The cubes are placed on a round table, so I assumed its
for group tasks, but their actual use wasn't clear to me." -
Zhibek

11. Key Insights
Encountered Difficulties with Locomotion/Teleportation
6/9
Participants
M “On FigJam, I could just click on my teammates’ names
and it would take me to where they are on the page.” -
PoojI
M “I don’t like how there are so many obstacles in the
scene. It adds more steps when teleporting.”-Bret9
M “Its really time consuming to teleport from one board to
another.” - Ankita

12. Key Insights
8/9
Participants
Want additional/alternative Input Methods for Sticky notes.
H “The voice input was recording all the noise from the
background." - Sanjan=
H "I assumed the sticky note to have a keyboard or a pen
tool to write things." - Ashi7
H "I really liked the mic tool. It is a very easy way of writing
things but I had to re-do a lot of times because it didn’t
hear me correctly." - Zhibek

13. Key Insights
Could not recognize tool icons and their functionality
5/9
Participants
D “I thought the mic icon for voice-typing was a pencil icon
and I was mimicking writing with a pencil instead of
speaking into it.” - Namrat0
D “I had no idea what a sponge is for until I played around
with it and realized its for erasing.”-Sanjan0
D “I thought the red icon for muting myself was actually for
recording a video.” - Ankita

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Recommendations
:5Improve Iconography: Redesign tool icons to be more intuitive
and distinct, ensuring that items like the microphone are not
mistaken for other tools
!5Customization Options: Offer more personalization settings, such
as a broader color palette for tools and objects
5Intuitive Interaction with Cubes: Clearly define and
communicate the purpose of the cubes, and introduce a tutorial
on how to use them for group activities
5Expand Input Methods: Incorporate various input methods,
including keyboard typing and controller gestures.

17. Recommendations - contd.
OYSimplify Navigation: Introduce a shortcut to teleport to a
specific spot in the environment/
+YStreamline 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
notes%
XYAccessibility 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.

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

19. Thank You!
Questions?