Design of Control Elements in Virtual Reality—Investigation of Factors Influencing Operating Efficiency, User Experience, Presence, and Workload

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) enables prototypes of devices to be evaluated in a simulation of a future usage environment. A disadvantage is the insufficient feedback design during the interaction with prototypes. In this study, we investigated how virtual control elements in VR must be designed to compensate for the lack of feedback. Therefore, 35 participants performed VR tasks using a virtual joystick and virtual rotary control. According to the design of experiments method, 12 factors, such as haptic feedback, sensitivity, size, and shape, were systematically varied. The control accuracy, task time, user experience, presence, and mental workload were recorded. The effect of a factor on the recorded parameters was examined using multifactorial ANOVA. Linear regression was used to calculate the mathematical models between the factors and parameters. These models were used to calculate the optimal design of the control elements in the VR. For rotary control, eight factors had a significant influence on the recorded parameters. There were seven factors for the joystick. With mathematical models, optimized control element designs for VR were calculated for the first time. These findings can help to better adapt prototypes and human–machine interfaces to different modalities in VR.