Exploring the Developer Challenges of Creating Multi-Platform VR Museum Experiences in a Post-Secondary Design Studio

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the challenges of creating multi-platform virtual reality museum prototypes within a post-secondary design studio. While most contemporary virtual reality research focuses on head-mounted displays, their accessibility limitations suggest that better guidelines for multi-platform development (creating the same virtual reality application for multiple immersive and non-immersive virtual reality platforms - desktop, mobile, and head-mounted display) can increase virtual reality inclusion, essential for public learning institutions such as museums. However, few studies examine and disseminate the challenges developers face when doing so. Over 12 weeks, 26 post-secondary student developers collaborated with a Canadian science and innovation museum client to create 7 multi-platform virtual reality learning applications. Weekly student developer reflections, prototype presentations, in-class observations, and a final focus group provided qualitative data that were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Initial findings reveal 5 developer challenges and 5 framework developer considerations for creating multi-platform virtual reality experiences within a virtual museum context. This exploratory study highlights the need for further research into developing more inclusive virtual reality experiences for learning.