Inclusive Design of the Immersive Reality: Eliciting User Perspectives

Abstract

This paper presents the exploratory study that was conducted to develop the understanding of how people with disabilities and impairments and older people relate to the immersive reality. The study was based on an online questionnaire survey and involved a sample of 100 people with a wide spectrum of impairments and disabilities within the age range between ca. 20 and 75 years of age. The study findings demonstrate the appreciation of the engagement with the immersive reality and a significant motivation to engage by those who did not have the previous experience, with some of the key drivers being the general curiosity, novelty, excitement, fun, relaxation and the sensation of empowerment. Some of the challenges presented by the immersive reality include the feeling of dizziness, nausea, disorientation, the loss of balance and the sensory overload. The presented research is part of a project aimed at facilitating the inclusive design of the immersive broadcast content.