Use of immersive and interactive systems to objectively and subjectively characterize user experience in work places

This demo’s objective is to display how simulated environments can be used in the evaluation of work-related indoor environments compared to physical environments. In fact, in indoor environment evaluations, Virtual Reality (VR) offers new possibilities for experimental design as well as a functional rapprochement between the laboratory and real life. With VR, environmental parameters (e.g light, color, furniture...) can be easily manipulated at reasonable costs, allowing to control and guide the user’s sensorial experience. One main challenge is to acknowledge to which extent simulated environments are ecologically valid and which functions would be more solicited in different environmental-simulation display formats. User-centric evaluation and sensory analysis in the building sector is in its beginning; this new tool could be of benefit for the building sector, on one hand for methodological facilitation purposes and on the other for cost reductions. In order to achieve the objectives of this project, a first step is to develop and validate the indoor simulations. In environmental simulations, one of the most used formats, for its visual realism and ease of use are 360° panoramic photos and videos, which permits capturing physical-world images. In an objective of validation of the format, 360° photos of workplaces were taken in the building of Halle 6 Ouest of Nantes University and an immersive and interactive test based on physiological indicators to subjectively and objectively assess comfort and performances in work offices was developed. The demo will comprise a head-mounted display with integrated eye-tracking and the measure of electrodermal activity, heart rate and galvanic skin response.