A Technical User Study on an Authoring Tool for Simplifying VR Study Setups in HRI Research

Abstract

This paper presents a novel virtual reality (VR) authoring tool designed to simplify the creation of human-robot interaction (HRI) studies. The tool was developed to lower the technical barriers in VR development and allows researchers to simulate complex robot interactions without the need for advanced programming skills. It incorporates key HRI methods such as the Wizard of Oz (WoZ) technique, eye-tracking and motion tracking, and provides a comprehensive platform for data collection and study customization. A technical user study with computer scientists was carried out to evaluate the technical applicability of the tool. The participants confirmed the user-friendliness, flexibility and accessibility of the tool and furthermore found the tool efficient and expressed a strong interest in using it for future research. The results underline the tool's potential to expand the use of VR in HRI research, especially for non-technical researchers.