Designing Virtual Natural Environments for Older Adults: Think-Aloud Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• Nature exposure benefits health, but older adults often lack access.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential solution for nature experiences.
• Designing effective VR nature environments for older adults requires specific knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, implement, and test older adults' preferences for virtual natural environments.
• To inform the design of VR restorative nature experiences tailored to seniors.

Main Methods:

• Iterative design process with 14 older adults (mean age 75).
• Utilized think-aloud protocols, qualitative content analysis, and questionnaires.
• Focused on usability, affective aspects, and side effects to guide prototype development.

Main Results:

• Older adults preferred realistic environments with believable natural processes and human traces.
• Key preferences included interactivity, exploration, and familiar elements evoking memories.
• The prototype incorporated seated locomotion, animals, and interactive elements like apple picking.
• High usability, enjoyment, and low negative side effects were reported.

Conclusions:

• Proposed design principles: realness, interactivity, and relatedness for VR nature environments.
• Emphasized the need for diverse content to meet varied older adult preferences.
• Results offer a framework for designing VR nature experiences for seniors, requiring further validation.