VR Early Prototype Usability Study

Project Overview (4 weeks)

During my contract with Blink UX, I supported a hardware usability study in partnership with a leading XR hardware and device ecosystem team. The project focused on evaluating comfort, stability, and fit across multiple early-stage virtual reality headset prototypes.

The goal of the research was to generate early, actionable insights to inform future iterations of the headset fit system, ensuring that design decisions were grounded in real user perception during representative VR use scenarios.

Goals

This study aimed to:

  • Understand how users perceive comfort and stability across multiple headset configurations

  • Identify whether changes in headset characteristics result in meaningful perceptual differences

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the current fit system design, with particular attention to:

    • Strap configuration

    • Face pad contact and pressure distribution

    • Overall balance and security during use

Methodology Used:

We conducted a moderated, in-person hardware usability study using non-functioning VR prototypes. Participants tested multiple headset configurations during a structured set of tasks designed to simulate common VR use cases.

To reduce learning effects and fatigue bias, the order of headset configurations was counterbalanced across participants. Each configuration was worn long enough to capture both immediate and sustained comfort responses.

Tasks & Use Cases Evaluated

Participants completed a combination of standing and seated tasks designed to reflect realistic VR contexts, including:

  • Standing activities that simulated interactive and movement-heavy VR experiences

  • Prescribed movements to assess stability during dynamic head and body motion

  • Seated media-viewing to evaluate sustained comfort in a passive use case

These tasks allowed the research team to observe how comfort and stability evolved across static, dynamic, and transitional postures.

Research Planning & Preparation

I worked closely with a supporting researcher and client stakeholders to design and refine a study protocol that balanced methodological rigor with participant comfort and real-world constraints. Together, we iterated on the session structure and measures to ensure consistent evaluation of comfort, stability, and fit across headset configurations, defining clear behavioral indicators, standardized attitudinal ratings, and targeted post-task questions.

We validated the protocol through internal pilot sessions with Blink UX team members, using findings to refine task flow, reduce fatigue, and clarify moderator prompts.

The full planning and iteration process was completed within 3–5 days, enabling a well-prepared and on-schedule study launch.

Recruitment

For participant recruitment, our project manager worked with the client and a recruitment agency. We screened and scheduled around 100 participants per study, starting the recruitment process 2 to 3 weeks before the sessions began.

Data Collection

Data was collected using a mixed-methods approach, including:

  • Direct observation of participant behavior and posture

  • Moderator notes capturing task performance, adjustments, and verbal feedback

  • Post-task survey responses using standardized rating scales to assess:

    • Comfort

    • Stability

    • Perceived weight

    • Fit and security

Where appropriate, objective measures were also collected to better understand pressure distribution and areas of discomfort.

Data Analysis

Following data collection, I led the quantitative analysis of participant responses using R to identify patterns and statistically meaningful trends across headset configurations.

Quantitative Analysis

Survey responses collected after each task were analyzed using R to assess:

  • Correlations between perceived comfort, stability, fit, and balance

  • Trends across configurations, including how changes in headset characteristics relate to shifts in user perception

  • Statistically significant differences in participant ratings across conditions, using appropriate inferential methods

  • Potential inflection points where small changes corresponded with disproportionately large perceptual shifts

This analysis allowed us to move beyond directional feedback and determine which observed differences were likely to reflect meaningful user experience changes rather than noise or individual variability.

Integrating Quantitative & Qualitative Insights

Quantitative findings were triangulated with:

  • Observational notes from moderated sessions

  • Participant verbal feedback during and after tasks

  • Physical adjustment behaviors (e.g., re-positioning, tightening, or readjusting the headset)

By pairing statistical results with behavioral evidence, we were able to validate patterns, explain unexpected results, and provide stakeholders with clear, evidence-backed interpretations rather than isolated metrics.

Synthesis & Reporting

Results were synthesized into:

  • Clear summaries highlighting significant trends and correlations

  • Visualizations that made complex findings accessible to non-technical stakeholders

  • Action-oriented insights connecting statistical outcomes to specific aspects of the fit system design

This approach ensured that quantitative rigor directly supported design decision-making, rather than existing in isolation from the broader research narrative.

Challenges Encountered

Key challenges included:

  • Working with early-stage, non-functional hardware prototypes

  • Managing participant fatigue during physically demanding tasks

  • Capturing nuanced comfort feedback that often emerges only after extended wear

  • Balancing protocol consistency with participant safety and comfort

These challenges required adaptive moderation techniques and close coordination with the client to maintain data quality.

Project Outcomes

The study produced clear, actionable guidance that informed future decisions around headset fit and ergonomics.

Outcomes included:

  • Identification of design characteristics that strongly influenced comfort and stability perception

  • Early detection of potential ergonomic risks before further development investment

  • Directional feedback that helped prioritize future iteration areas within the fit system

The findings supported evidence-based decision-making for subsequent prototype development phases.

Why This Project Matters

This project highlights my ability to:

  • Conduct rigorous research on hardware and ergonomics-focused UX problems

  • Adapt usability methods for physically immersive and constrained environments

  • Synthesize mixed-methods data into clear, design-relevant insights

  • Navigate real-world research constraints while protecting participant comfort and data integrity