VR menu interfaces need an upgrade…. or a flashback to the past.
One of the problems with Virtual Reality today, is that the technology can do more things than we ever dreamed it could. It overwhelms new users (first timers) with a terrible introduction to the technology and an overwhelming interface.
Often, long menus of hundreds of applications and videos, scrolling in a hovering window in front of you.
There is often very little organization, or structure to the categorization of VR app content.
For some there aren’t even any options to set the menu window to a wraparound in 360 degrees!
(example Sony’s PSVR menu is NOT this greatest gaming room captured in 360)
It’s just a black space with a screen in front of you.
The Virtual Reality User experience and interface leaves much to be desired at this point in time. The most recent PlayStation updates have yet to address this issue.
Friendly Assistants.
No where can be found a happy virtual assistant explaining the rules of this amazing new world and what you can do with it.
A paperclip, a Morpheus or a voice in your ear like Scarlett Johanssen “from the movie Her.” (obviously AI is not there yet, but admit it, it would be cool to have a voice guiding your first VR menu navigation experience.)
Who would be your ultimate guide around this brave new digital world?
This needs to change, and soon, to really trigger mass adoption.
Sci-Fi movies from the last 40 years failed to show what surfing the internet in VR would look like, they had to guess what the UI UX (User Interface, User Experience) would look like. They often used outrageous (yet familiar) digitization like these and many more.
Lawnmower Man
Tron
Star Trek holodeck
The Matrix
For my generation (and older) to adopt VR in a really big way, I propose that VR developers offer some options for interface design, in the available VR devices.
Something Familiar, A place that helps people envision the possibilites available.
If you could select one of the previously mentioned VR world view styles ; Lawnmower, Tron, Holodeck, Matrix etc…. as the starting room, or a 360 capture of your own home.
I think for some, the familiarity will help see the potential of what the technology can do, and be more willing to explore and experiment.
Perhaps also offering immersive menus and theater options for accessing regular old square 2d and 3d content like images, videos and websites -pre 2018
When Microsoft launched Windows, it revolutionized computer use, by reducing the need to learn code commands. Instead users could visually drag and drop icons around on a desktop.
What we need today is a Redesigned user interface for VR. A window view into the program’s abilities. The internet is starting to get saturated by VR content and user-friendly content navigation tools (waiting for advanced speech recognition and AI seems a little too idealistic).
A home-screen landing page should can be customizable. It should blend both the familiar and unique and it should allow for simple sorting and navigation through VR content.
What VR interface would you love to be able to load up?
Content navigation is only going to get very complex. Education and Entertainment are slowly merging into one. (EduGaming, Edutainment?) Another merge is occurring between #WEBVR enabled websites and #360videos /image content (with clickable links to other #360VR experiences through “storyboard icons”). Navigating between VR videos, webpages, travel, experiences, games, lessons, therapy, telecom, illusions, metaverses and real life “captured” locations is becoming a more seamless experience, distorting your ability to know which one you are in.
We can simplify this with a refined User Interface for an improved User experience today.
I’ve got a plan, if you’re interested.
also check out.
Recent News:
Oculus releases Minority report style UI
