Frame 07-08

TECHNOLOGY – ‘It’s technical, it’s close to
your face,’ says Nicolas Henchoz, director of
EPFL+ECAL Lab, about the prevailing per-
ception of VR goggles. ‘Research shows that
wearing them can induce stress.’ Until now, he
points out, developers have put most of their
efforts into developing the device’s technical
performance, often disregarding other key
factors. This is where his team comes in. By
identifying VR’s biggest barriers, from the
user’s vulnerability in open environments
to the glasses’ cold materiality, they set out
to ‘normalize’ the user experience – and to
improve its effects.
‘Qualitative and quantitative data –
derived from tests performed at the Musée
des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, for instance –
clearly show the link between the device and
the credibility of the virtual content. There
is a big potential for VR in combination with
deep learning. When users feel more con-
fident with the technology, and their stress
levels are reduced, they can focus more on the
content delivered through the simulated 3D
environment,’ says Henchoz, meaning that the
headset’s design directly impacts its ability
to convey information. This was the motive

behind the Milan Design Week exhibition

Hands On Vision, for which a group of

designers revisited the well-known wear-

able. Reminiscent of a fencing mask, Dimitri

Bähler’s glasses give users a feeling of protec-

tion in public spaces, while Bertille Laguet

channels the world of luxury to upgrade the

device’s tactility, thus addressing the user’s

gesture. The duo behind Marlo & Isaure, in

turn, teamed up with Nicolas Le Moigne

to detach the device from the consumer:

inspired by the panoramic binoculars inher-

ent to tourist sites, their prototype doesn’t

have to be worn.

Although these solutions improve

the interaction between user and device,

it remains difficult to find a true balance

for VR’s cognitive and emotional impact

• unless the technology can get to a point
  where a headset is no longer necessary. In
  the meantime, Henchoz believes it’s impor-
  tant to realize that VR isn’t the only way to
  create an immersive setup. ‘The starting point
  of any new project should be its objectives,
  not the technology.’ – FK
  epfl-ecal-lab.ch

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OBJECTS 21