Ergonomic Design
Teague & Boeing
Research in VR for aircraft architecture & interiors
Design Challenge: create research tools in VR to design for perceptions and experiences in airplanes.
Result: worked with VR developers to prototype tools to test the accuracy of spatial perceptions in a human-scale mockup. Perception was close to perfect; tools need iteration.
While at Teague as the Research & Strategy Manager, I initiated exploration studies to use virtual reality with accurate-scale physical mockups to capture reliable user experience data. This information would be useful as design input and verification of aircraft architecture and interior design processes, as well as a compelling, potential sales tool for Boeing to airline clients.
Teague had two expert disciplines: building mockups for architecture and lighting design, and digital visualization for interior design. My research team worked with the VR developers to prototype a mixed-technology system to increase the accuracy of visual space perception. We pushed further to create an avatar that tracked a person’s actual movements within a physical, interactive mockup.
We conducted two prototype studies to prove our hypotheses and examine the human factors data that could be extracted from the 3D models and movements. The technique had a promising future to create reliable user experience data in airplane development for Boeing’s business, and service design for Teague’s business.
“The VR avatar is accurately capturing the moment I make contact with a surface. I felt confident moving through space with the headset on.” — Research participant
