Two sides of the same coin: accessibility practices and neurodivergent users' experience of extended reality

Cyberspace has continued to change throughout the 1990s and 2000s, when the Internet became widely used. The concept of a massive, integrated, sustainable, and interconnected cyber world is the heart of the metaverse. The aim of the metaverse is to create a digital world that is analogous to the existing world. Thus, the most recent metaverse development is investigated in light of cutting‐edge technologies and metaverse ecosystems. To this end, a pilot survey to provide a first overview of upcoming challenges and opportunities of the metaverse is presented. The results provide researchers with a direction for future study as well as potential applications in the metaverse.

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“…Lukava et al [36] 2022 Two sides of the same coin: accessibility practices and neurodivergent users' experience of extended reality…”

Section: Survey Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

A metaworld: Implications, opportunities and risks of the metaverse

Felice

Rehman

Petrillo

et al. 2023

IET Collab Intel Manufact

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“…There has been research into recreating forms of sensory overload in VR to promote understanding (Pavanatto et al, 2020), explore neurodivergent users' experiences of MR and sensory overload (Lukava, Morgado Ramirez and Barbareschi, 2022) and the amount of senses in retail settings that lead to sensory overload (Doucé and Adams, 2020). However there is currently little research into investigating sensory overload and fading in VR so a balance can be found for two or more senses.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personalising the unexpected: Preliminary suggestions for synaesthetic-oriented design

Wright,

Kefalidou

2023

Electronic Workshops in Computing

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Synaesthetic-oriented design, inspired by the phenomenon Synaesthesia, focuses on introducing unexpected or atypical sensory combinations into designs. Whilst this design approach has been used to design software, there is limited research into how it can affect User Experience (UX), especially in Mixed Reality technologies. This paper provides suggestions on how to create synaesthetic-oriented Virtual Environments (VEs) based on an exploratory study. The study had 30 participants split into three groups with different sensory combinations: synaesthetic-oriented (atypical sensory combinations), multimodal (typical sensory combinations) and visual-only (control group). Participants completed four mazes with puzzles which, for the non-control groups, had visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory and gustatory elements. The results suggest that positive aspects of synaesthetic-oriented design include surprise, participants creating their own links to the VE based on their past experiences and potentially presence. Challenges for synaesthetic-oriented design include balancing the simultaneous senses, not matching user expectations (negative surprise) and designing for participants with higher goal focus and/or need to rationalise. As the study was run remotely due to COVID-19, suggestions are also provided for incorporating smell and taste into a VE remotely.

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“…Similarly, those with mobility disabilities may face challenges in VR platforms requiring intricate physical movements or not supporting assistive devices. The use of extended reality (XR) technologies can result in sensory overload for neurodivergent individuals, and such individuals may face difficulties in accessing XR technologies due to the lack of integration of accessibility requirements in current software development practices [16]. Addressing challenges related to the Metaverse for educational purposes involves considering potential accessibility and integration difficulties for individuals with learning disabilities [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse

Othman,

Chemnad,

Hassanien

et al. 2024

MTI

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The following article investigates the Metaverse and its potential to bolster digital accessibility for persons with disabilities. Through qualitative analysis, we examine responses from eleven experts in digital accessibility, Metaverse development, disability advocacy, and policy formulation. This exploration uncovers key insights into the Metaverse’s current state, its inherent principles, and the challenges and opportunities it presents in terms of accessibility. The findings reveal a mixed state of inclusivity within the Metaverse, highlighting significant advancements along with notable gaps, especially in integrating assistive technologies and ensuring interoperability across different virtual environments. This study emphasizes the Metaverse’s potential to revolutionize experiences for individuals with disabilities, provided that accessibility is embedded in its foundational design. Ethical and legal considerations, such as privacy, non-discrimination, and evolving legal frameworks, are identified as critical factors that shape an inclusive Metaverse. We propose a comprehensive framework that emphasizes technological adaptation and innovation, user-centric design, universal access, social and economic considerations, and global standards. This framework aims to guide future research and policy interventions to foster an inclusive digital environment in the Metaverse. This paper contributes to the emerging discourse on the Metaverse and digital accessibility, offering a nuanced understanding of its complexities and a roadmap for future exploration and development. This underscores the necessity of a multi-faceted approach that incorporates technological innovation, user-centered design, ethical considerations, legal compliance, and continuous research to create an inclusive and accessible Metaverse.

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Two sides of the same coin: accessibility practices and neurodivergent users' experience of extended reality

Cited by 14 publications

References 51 publications

A metaworld: Implications, opportunities and risks of the metaverse

A metaworld: Implications, opportunities and risks of the metaverse

Personalising the unexpected: Preliminary suggestions for synaesthetic-oriented design

Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse

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