Mixed Reality as Empathy Machine. Case Study in Universal Design Course

Abstract

Empathy has become a central focus in design and is clearly evident in various frameworks, such as universal design, inclusive design, and human-centered design. However, among numerous stakeholders, designers, and engineers are the ones who particularly require an expansion of their empathetic understanding. The emergence of immersive technologies has the potential to facilitate the development of empathy in individuals. Extended reality (XR) combines virtual reality with the real world, enabling the simulation of various physical states, health conditions, and limitations of the human body. This paper introduces three distinct XR scenarios that immerse potential users in the experiences of people with special needs. The elaborated tasks encompass aspects like mobility impairments, pregnancy, and challenges faced by the elderly. All exercises take place in a familiar supermarket environment, as shopping is a common, everyday activity for most people. The XR application is designed for the Oculus Quest 2 platform and is complemented by external equipment such as a geriatric suit, pregnancy belly simulator, or wheelchair. The proposed simulations were assessed and validated by 42 students from the Lodz University of Technology taking the Universal Design course. The testing process comprised several stages, which included an empathy pre-Test, the execution of the XR experience, an empathy post-Test, and a brief interview. Additionally, we registered the time for exercises and monitored users' movement activity during the experience.