Virtual Reality Etiquette
Some of these felt silly to write, but as I have come to witness these unspoken and common sense etiquette rules be broken by many companies, researchers and others who demo their VR game/simulator/experience (including MYSELF) I feel compelled to write this.
None of those I witnessed breaking these, did so in ill intent. We get caught up in how we relate to the product and the technology that we forget to place ourselves in other peoples perspective. Se here we go!
1. Ask before touching
Oh man. This is one of those I myself have broken tons of times. It would have taken just a simple question BEFORE the person puts on a HMD to avoid uncomfortable situations. Simply asking “Is it ok if I am hands on with instructing you, otherwise I will be in the back and let you figure it out on your own” can do a lot. It’s not being PC, it’s just common sense, particularly in a situation where you’ve just met the person you are instructing. Everyone has a boundary for their personal space and you need to respect that. I myself prefer people being hands on, which also means that I forget this rule a lot! So here is a reminder to me, and to you.
2. No pictures
A person that can’t see what you’re doing, can’t consent to having his or hers picture taken. So either ask beforehand if it’s ok to take pictures of them while in VR or for simplicity, DON’T take pictures! You are not building trust towards the user if they find a pic of themselves they did not consent to online a few days after they try your demo. If you need PR pics, find friends or actors and take the necessary pics. Don’t use unsuspecting people. Even in situations where you are just simply gaming with long time friends, ask if you can post their horror reactions and those fun moments you captured spontaneously. Always be considerate.
3. Hygiene is the key
Even if we all know that those wipes don’t do much, and the risk of catching anything dangerous via a headset is minimal, it is still wise to at least demonstrate that you are thinking of hygiene. Always wipe the headset between users while demoing. Better yet, always have single use hygienic covers, and offer them. It is little effort, but shows a lot of consideration.
4. Never leave anyone alone in VR
Another mistake I personally have made on more than one occasion. I’ve initiated a demo, and then left the room because I’ve been called in to other sessions to help with tech issues. This has left the person using the headset confused and a bit unsettled that they were left vulnerable. You are that persons eyes and ears for the time they are immersed, and if they don’t get a response from you or find that you’ve suddenly disappeared when they remove the headset, they will leave feeling unsettled. Be there from start to finish! Or be honest about the conditions in which they are entering VR, so that they can be prepared.
5. Don’t interrupt an immersive experience but be time conscious
So, in any demo situation you will have loads of interested spectators that will want to try. If you have a full game, the chances are you will have some immersed testers that will occupy the headset for a very long time. Instead of either interrupting the person in an abrupt way, or annoying bystanders who will never know when their turn is, either make a sign that states how long the max time in the demo is, or have a keen eye for when it’s ok to start phasing someone back in to reality. There is nothing worse than having to leave a really good experience abruptly, and there is nothing more annoying than waiting in line for 30 minutes because nobody is taking charge of the line.
So, those were some small steps for an overall better VR culture. I hope we can remind each other to be considerate and awesome guides to the world of VR!
