Keywords: Immersive Technology, VR, AR, MR
As part of the academic knowledge dissemination series within the ArtTech Fusion event hosted by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the discussion session “UX Design and Strategies for Immersive Technologies” garnered significant attention from technology experts. Chaired by Associate Professor Gerald Estadieu, the session also featured Mr. Trinh Phuoc – CEO of SoundxVision.io, and Mr. Minh Duc, a game developer with over a decade of experience. Their insights illuminated the challenges and opportunities in UX design for immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).
UX Design for Immersive Technologies: Definition and Importance
In the era of modern technology, platforms like VR, AR, and MR are revolutionizing how we interact with digital environments. However, a crucial factor determining the success of these technologies lies in User Experience (UX) design. UX in immersive environments requires a delicate balance of intuitiveness, spatial interaction, and sensory engagement. Effective UX design strategies facilitate seamless transitions between the physical and virtual worlds, delivering smooth and captivating user experiences.
Associate Professor Gerald Estadieu from the University of Saint Joseph, Macau, emphasized, “Successful UX in immersive technologies not only focuses on user behavior but must also ensure usability and the unique characteristics of 3D environments to create natural and enjoyable experiences.”
To achieve this, designers must prioritize accessibility, spatial interaction, and multi-sensory engagement within 3D environments, ensuring a truly immersive user experience.
Associate Professor Gerald Estadieu and the Development of Spatial Audio
Delving into a critical aspect of immersive technology, Associate Professor Estadieu discussed Spatial Audio. He highlighted that sound plays an essential role in creating realistic interactive experiences. According to him, Ambisonics – a method for capturing and reproducing 3D audio – is the only theoretical framework capable of accurately delivering spatial audio in interactive environments.
Despite its potential, Ambisonics remains underutilized due to technological limitations in recording, playback systems, and high costs. The spatial audio market is projected to grow by 10% over the next decade, reaching USD 5 billion by 2023. In collaboration with the University of Art Linz, Austria, his team developed an experimental Ambisonics playback system featuring 24 speakers, installed in Macau. Utilizing 3D printing for speaker enclosures and custom PCB designs, the project achieved outstanding audio quality, demonstrating the vast potential of spatial audio applications in virtual tourism, education, and entertainment.
Otto Sonics: An Open-Source Solution for Spatial Audio
A key highlight was Otto Sonics – an open-source, DIY spatial audio system. Professor Estadieu introduced Otto Sonics with the aim of democratizing spatial audio technology, making it more accessible and cost-effective. Key advantages include:
- Affordability: Otto Sonics offers a budget-friendly solution, enabling widespread adoption.
- Scalability: Suitable for large-scale installations, from concert halls and theaters to expansive exhibition spaces.
- Accessibility: Usable by diverse groups including:
- Research centers and universities for academic purposes.
- Theaters, concert venues, and museums for immersive visitor experiences.
- Artists, content creators, and VR developers to enhance games, films, and XR experiences.
- Research centers and universities for academic purposes.
Otto Sonics empowers creative experimentation, providing artists and developers with opportunities to innovate interactive experiences.
Mr. Minh Duc and VR Game Development Experience
A vital part of the discussion was Mr. Minh Duc’s insights, a game developer with over 10 years of experience, including 3 years in VR development. He shared the challenges and opportunities of VR game development, especially for newcomers. His project “Stunt-Track-Builder” succeeded on the Meta VR store and even received funding from Facebook.
He also discussed his experiences with the Chinese VR market through the Qiyu store and participation in Meta Connect 2023, where Mark Zuckerberg introduced Quest 3. Mr. Duc offered valuable advice for approaching VR development in 2024, highlighting important trends such as the collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban on AR glasses. Despite these innovations, he noted the uncertainties in VR’s future, as major tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Tencent scale back investments, leaving VR a niche market dominated by small to medium studios.
Mr. Trinh Phuoc and the Importance of Extended Reality (XR)
Mr. Trinh Phuoc, CEO of SoundxVision.io, provided insights into Extended Reality (XR), encompassing AR, VR, and MR. XR is transforming how we engage with digital environments, offering richer and more diverse user experiences.
While science fiction films often inspire XR concepts, Mr. Phuoc pointed out that many depicted interactions are impractical. For example, constant mid-air hand gestures are tiring and limit usability. Effective XR design should prioritize user comfort and real needs over flashy features.
He emphasized that XR users are diverse, with varying needs. “Explorers” prefer dynamic interactions, while those less inclined to physical movement value convenience and efficiency. Understanding these user profiles is essential for creating engaging and accessible XR experiences.
Emerging Trends in UX Design for Immersive Technologies
The session provided in-depth perspectives on how designers can craft impressive user experiences in virtual environments. Experts stressed that success in UX design for immersive technologies requires creativity, deep user understanding, and effective application of new technologies like spatial audio, 3D printing, and game development tools.
Fundamental principles of UX design for immersive technologies shared by the experts include:
- User-Centered Design: Creating experiences that are intuitive, highly usable, and user-friendly.
- Interactivity and Comfort: Developing experiences that are not only engaging but also convenient and comfortable.
- Understanding User Needs and Habits: Designing appropriate interaction methods, from hand gestures and eye-tracking to voice control.
With the continuous advancement of technology, the future of UX in immersive technologies will present new opportunities and challenges. By applying thoughtful and innovative design strategies, designers can shape a future where immersive technologies become integral to everyday life.
| As part of the growing ArtTech field, the annual international ArtTech Fusion (ATF) series is hosted by the ArtTech Hub (ATH), in collaboration with UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and various domestic and international partners, with different themes each year. In 2024, the ArtTech Fusion series was organized under the theme “New ArtTech for Future Generations,” aiming to ignite and promote creative thinking and innovative actions of future generations, contributing to building a sustainable society. Over three days (October 22–24, 2024), ATF24 featured more than 30 academic and practical activities, including 5 keynote speeches, 10 special sessions, 5 parallel research presentation sessions, 5 workshops, 1 academic book chapter publication, 9 exhibitions, 1 heritage connection trip, and 1 tangible performance. In 2025, the fourth ArtTech Fusion (ATF25) will be held with the theme “Co-Creation for a Wondrous Future,” scheduled for September 24–26, 2025. This will be an opportunity to explore, experience, connect, and create within the wondrous world of art and new technologies towards a sustainable future. For updates on ATF25, please visit: Website: https://ath.ueh.edu.vn/ Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ueh.arttechhub. |
Author: MSc. Tran Le Quynh Anh – School of Media Design, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH)
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News, images: Author, UEH Communications and Partnership Development Department
