2026-10-14T10:06:37Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34022052 2026-09-29T08:31:08Z category_29032 portal_947 item_type_14 month_year_09_2026

The HMD Simulator: A Design Probe for Learning Complex Hardware-Software Phenomena in VR Optics Chek Tien Tan (10758993) Songjia Shen (12502216) Virtual and mixed reality VR Optics Head-Mounted Displays Web-Based Simulation Educational Technology Visualization <p dir="ltr">A solid understanding of VR optics is highly valuable for designing usable and innovative immersive experiences, yet the underlying principles remain challenging for students due to their abstract, interdisciplinary nature. Conventional lecture materials often struggle to convey how parameters such as focal length and lens placement influence image perception. We built an accessible web-based HMD Simulator that lets users manipulate parameters and observe real-time effects on stereo image formation and frustum geometry. Using the simulator as a design probe, we conducted an exploratory study (<i>n</i> = 16) with staff and students to compare experiences against conventional learning materials. Thematic analysis revealed that participants perceived interactivity as stimulating curiosity to tinker, while real-time feedback was reported to reduce perceived cognitive effort, facilitating deeper inquiry. Participants further emphasized how the simulator complemented rather than replaced conventional instruction, highlighting guided integration features as priority. These findings inform initial design considerations for interactive tools in VR optics and other domains with complex hardware-software interactions.</p> 2026-06-12T00:00:00Z Text Conference contribution 10.1145/3800645.3812892 https://figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/The_HMD_Simulator_A_Design_Probe_for_Learning_Complex_Hardware-Software_Phenomena_in_VR_Optics/34022052 CC BY 4.0