CLEVR: A Customizable Interactive Learning Environment for Users with Low Vision in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Technological advances enable the development of new low vision aids. One such new technology is virtual reality (VR). Existing VR applications offer a variety of adjustments to the content and the user's environment to support people with low vision. Yet, an interaction concept to conveniently activate and control these aids is missing. Therefore, we designed and implemented an interaction concept based on user and expert feedback and evaluated it in a user study. Our application offers various aids to support residual vision and a radial menu for intuitive use of these aids. The results of the user study show that the VR application allows simple task solving comparable to a desktop computer. Furthermore, the user study gives an insight into the effects of different visual impairments on the usage of VR, since the field of view has a larger impact than visual acuity. Overall, our results indicate that VR is a suitable aid to support the individual needs of users with low vision.