Delivering genuinely immersive VR experiences goes beyond impressive visuals—it’s about designing for real-world comfort and usability. By leveraging a user-centred design and rapid prototyping approach, VR product designers can find innovative solutions to address user challenges – reaching a broader audience more effectively. At Ignitec, client collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, ensuring a result that hits the mark – without blowing the budget. Ready to bring an innovative, user-focused VR solution to life? Connect with us!

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VR usability challenges impacting widespread adoption

Despite its market growth and applications across different industries – from surgical simulations to enabling immersive classroom learning – virtual reality is primarily perceived as a high-tech and expensive toy for gamers. In a study conducted across 29 countries, Ipsos found that just 50% of 21,005 respondents felt optimistic about using virtual reality devices in their daily lives – with markets in Europe and North America showing the least excitement. 

To enter the mainstream, VR hardware must incorporate two essential features: convenience and control. Convenience, as it relates to availability and access, must offer users more choice in terms of price points, functionality, and usability beyond gaming. Control means agency, and at the moment, not all VR devices offer the immersive experience the user expects. Usability challenges include: 

1. VR Simulation Sickness and Disorientation

One of the most widely recognised issues with VR is motion sickness, which affects around 25-40% of VR users. When a user’s physical movements don’t align with the visuals in the virtual world, it can create a disorienting experience, or simulation sickness, that leads to nausea, dizziness, and even headaches. For VR to be widely accessible, this issue needs effective solutions.

2. Uncomfortable VR Hardware

Many VR setups require the user to wear a headset and sometimes additional gear for extended periods, leading to discomfort or fatigue and an inability to keep headsets on. Factors such as the weight and fit of the headset, as well as physical freedom of movement, are essential for long-term usability.

Bringing the user’s hands into the equation is also crucial to creating a more immersive and comfortable user experience (UX). Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg revealed a prototype for haptic gloves that simulate the sensation of touching a VR object, which would be paired with the Oculus headset. The gloves allow users to interact with the virtual environment rather than simply watching or listening to it, with added functionality such as drawing or typing on a virtual keyboard. This suggests that Oculus may be looking toward practical, everyday applications for the technology beyond gaming.

3. Inaccessible for Users with Disabilities

VR design often overlooks accessibility for users with disabilities, such as visual impairments, limited mobility, or hearing loss. Making VR more inclusive requires rethinking input methods, sensory feedback, and navigational elements to ensure that every user, regardless of ability, can engage fully in virtual environments.

4. Limited Usability in Small Spaces

Many VR experiences assume that users have ample physical space to move around. In reality, users may be confined to smaller spaces or need seated options, creating a need for adaptive VR solutions.

5. Affordability and Accessibility

VR systems require expensive hardware, high-powered computers, and ample space—barriers that can deter potential users and limit VR’s accessibility to a broader audience.

Case Study: Virtual reality design solution for simulation sickness

Solving VR motion sickness and limited space challenges with VRGo’s 360° Prototype Chair

To address UX challenges caused by motion sickness, physical discomfort, and limited space, Ignitec partnered with VR entrepreneur Joe Ryan to develop a prototype for the VRGo, a 360-degree VR chair that responds in reality to events in the virtual world, helping users feel well–oriented and balanced.

UX challenge: Reducing motion sickness in immersive VR experiences

VRGo found that a significant portion of its users experienced nausea while moving in virtual environments, particularly when standing still physically but moving in the virtual space. This simulation sickness, a barrier to widespread VR adoption, motivated VRGo to seek a solution that could help users enjoy immersive experiences more comfortably.

Solution: Intuitive VR motion integration

Ignitec’s approach involved creating a chair that aligns real-world tilting and spinning with virtual movements to minimise sensory disconnect. This innovative chair responds to events in the virtual environment by rotating and adjusting in real-time, providing users with a more natural and immersive experience that significantly reduces the risk of nausea.

VRGo product design features:

1. 360° movement and tilt: The chair rotates and tilts to simulate virtual movement, reducing the sensory mismatch that often causes motion sickness.
2. Ergonomic design for comfort: To enhance usability, we optimised the chair for comfort during extended use, with ergonomic adjustments to support users’ posture.
3. Adaptive user controls: The VRGo chair includes customisable controls, enabling users to adjust motion levels based on personal preference and tolerance. For example, the virtual joystick can be connected as either a joypad or keyboard/mouse.
4. Lightweight, compact, and durable: The chair is made from aircraft-grade composite material and weighs 4kg. This makes it robust, highly portable, and easily stored in small spaces.

Ignitec’s service contribution

1. User-Centred Design and Rapid Prototyping: Our user-centred design approach was crucial in understanding how to intuitively integrate VRGo’s motion functions, minimising nausea while enhancing comfort. We developed and tested multiple iterations by applying rapid prototyping to fine-tune VRGo’s design and optimise the device’s interaction with VR applications.
2. Scaled Manufacturing for Market Readiness: VRGo’s key challenge was efficiently moving from concept through prototyping, small-batch production, and a pathway to scalability. We mapped out a scalable manufacturing process, leveraging early-stage technology research and an evolving production strategy to help VRGo demonstrate its proof of concept and secure funding.
3. Product Development and Manufacturing Support: From prototype to a market-ready product, our industrial and hardware design expertise ensured VRGo’s components, custom enclosures, and electronic systems met stringent durability and performance standards essential for mass production. Ignitec’s insights into CAD and PCB design optimised VRGo’s internal mechanics and connectivity, thus ensuring product integrity at scale.

Outcome: Intuitive, immersive VR solution to improve usability

With Ignitec’s support, VRGo proved its idea and concept, delivered a quality prototype, met its fundraising goals, and successfully launched its product.

Ready to co-create VR accessibility solutions?

Ignitec is committed to advancing VR technology by creating solutions that address the typical constraints of accessibility, comfort, and usability. Through our user-centred approach, as seen in the VRGo case study, we work to develop VR experiences that are not only innovative but also truly inclusive. 

With each project, we bring forward solutions that push the boundaries of VR accessibility, making it a better fit for users across a variety of contexts. If you’re facing similar challenges in VR design, we’re here to offer our expertise and in-house capabilities to turn user pain points into powerful, solution-oriented products that redefine what’s possible in virtual reality. Call us to schedule a free and confidential consultation.