Control and User Interface Design Factors for the Metaverse – Supporting Meaningful Social Interactions in VR

The project aims to better understand the Metaverse as a platform for social interaction and user experiences, evaluating how Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces enable accessibility, engagement and connectedness in online virtual spaces. This work facilitates greater understanding of how VR technologies support interaction, immersion and communication for users, with implications for social, business and entertainment contexts. The project goals include an integrated VR research platform, paving the way for research into the viability, usability and influence of VR interfaces, such as wand-based motion controls and head, hand, face and eye tracking. This is demonstrated through an initial research study examining social interactions in an MQ-developed co-located multiplayer gaming environment. Ultimately, the project seeks to explore the capability of VR to satisfy psychological needs and support social wellbeing.