Assessing the Potential for Physiological Harm of Persuasive Interaction Design in Virtual Reality – HARMFULVR

Interaction in Virtual Reality is mainly conducted through embodied actions in 3D space (e.g., walking, pointing). Literature in the field of Human-Computer Interaction established the concept of persuasive design which is a practice to influence (nudge) a user’s behavior towards a certain action. This project aims to create a fundamental understanding of (1) the degree to which a user’s physical actions can be influenced in VR using interaction design, (2) the techniques that can be used to nudge a user to perform risky and potentially harmful actions (e.g., collision) and (3) how to design a safety mechanism that is able to protect the user appropriately. The project will use HCI methods leading to the design, implementation and evaluation of multiple interactions and prototypes for current VR HMDs. Results will demonstrate (a) a set of interactions that are able to nudge an immersed user (b) a set of potential risky behavior and (c) a set of requirements for a new safety mechanism.