Demo- How to design so blind users are not left out of VR
SoundSpace- a demo/proof of concept for VR Accessibility. 3D spatial sound interface navigation.
Summary: Designing for VR must include users with disabilities. If you are working on AR or VR content, the accessibility of your app or piece should be on your radar from design time through to implementation.
Designing for blind users in VR requires the use of spatial audio using tested 3D sound techniques. At Experience Dynamics we work on a lot of R&D projects that we end up publishing results to the wider UX/ HCI community. One of these projects is a Disability & VR project called SoundSpace.
Today’s virtual worlds rely heavily on visual cues, so most of the experience is irrelevant to Blind or visually impaired users. However, research has shown that spatial sound interfaces can help with wayfinding by providing spatialized directional cues.
The demo above explores the use of spatial audio in 3 scenarios:
1 Navigate to the bookshelf and shared space (sound pulls you toward the target).
2 Explore the bookshelf with sonification principles (tones vary higher or lower on the shelf)
3 Join a social VR scenario for social collaboration (enter a private shared space and audibly identify a user).
Note: We did not spend time on graphics because we were testing design options for blind users, for whom graphics are meaningless (as would be wearing a head-mounted display).
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Who You will Learn From
Frank Spillers
Founder - UX Inner Circle
Frank Spillers, MS, founded the UX Inner Circle in 2020 to support senior practitioners facing complex challenges. The community exists to sharpen thinking, increase your confidence, and pressure-test real decisions. It’s built for people doing the work, not just talking about it. Frank founded an award-winning UX and Service Design consultancy (Experience Dynamics) and now leads UX and Service Design at numerous organisations, including the UK Government Digital Service. He has worked with and led teams to deliver hundreds of products and services over several decades. His work spans government, enterprise platforms, nonprofits, and global brands. He brings 25+ years as a senior UX and Service Design leader. His focus areas include Inclusive Design, accessibility, emotion-led design, cross-cultural UX, VR/AR, and UX leadership. His work has directly increased conversion by 88% and revenue by 300% for organizations including Nike, Microsoft, Intel, Capital One, Global Disability Rights Now!, the World Bank, and the City of New York.
