Learning Experience Design of Project PHoENIX: Addressing the Lack of Autistic Representation in Extended Reality...

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality (VR) Development
• Neurodiversity Studies

Background:

• Limited precedent exists for designing VR environments with autistic users.
• Existing immersive technologies often lack accessibility and user-centered design principles for neurodiverse populations.
• Participatory design frameworks are underutilized in neurodiverse technology development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-produce a virtual reality (VR) environment with autistic users through participatory design.
• To create a VR experience that is highly usable, accessible, and sensitive to autistic needs and preferences.
• To establish a design precedent for inclusive, human-centered, and neurodiverse VR research and development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a participatory design approach within a Learning Experience Design (LXD) framework.
• Centered autistic individuals, caregivers, and providers in all stages of immersive technology design and research.
• Employed collaborative research methods for co-design and co-development of the online VR environment.

Main Results:

• Successfully co-designed and co-developed an online VR environment tailored to autistic stakeholders' needs.
• Generated key research findings and insights into the design process, constraints, and principles for inclusive VR.
• Identified critical lessons learned for future neurodiverse technology development.

Conclusions:

• Project PHoENIX provides essential design precedent for advancing inclusive VR research.
• The participatory, human-centered approach is vital for creating equitable and accessible neurodiverse technologies.
• This work advocates for broader adoption of neurodiverse-inclusive paradigms in VR development.