A Framework for User Tests in a Virtual Environment

This paper describes the setup and development of an innovative framework for conducting user tests in a virtual environment. As it is the main purpose to evaluate the user's reactions to user interfaces on mobile devices, an Android-based smartphone and a tablet computer were linked to a Virtual Reality (VR) system. The framework allows user interaction to trigger certain events in the immersive environment and vice versa interaction with the virtual environment can trigger interface behaviour. For hand-free navigation through the virtual scene a Wii Balance Board is used. The framework is the basis for user tests to be conducted within the uTRUSTit (Usable Trust in the Internet of Things) project supported by the EU under the Seventh Framework Programme.