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Prof Sylvia Xueni Pan

This course will teach you about one of the most important aspects of VR, how you interact with a VR world. Virtual Reality is completely different from an on screen app or game. You are completely immersed in a VR world, so it doesn't make sense to interact only through buttons or menus. You will get the most out of VR if you can interact with the world just as you would with the real world: with your natural body movements. You will learn about the basic concepts and technologies of VR Interaction. You will then get hands on, learning about how to move around in VR and how to interact with the objects in your world. The course will finish with some advice from experts on VR interaction design and you will do a project where you will get real experience of developing VR Interaction.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Interaction in VR
Welcome to Week 1! In this week, we will cover interaction in VR. You will discover different types of interaction, and how interaction works with different HMDs. We'll end the week by introducing you to this MOOC's project.
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Moving around in VR
Welcome to Week 2! This week, we'll cover moving around in VR. We'll look at physical navigation, such as walk-in-place, and virtual navigation, such as teleportation. You will end the week by beginning your project, and submitting your work in progress.
Interacting with Objects in VR
Welcome to Week 3! This week, we will be looking at interacting with objects in VR. We'll cover topics such as interacting with objects within reach, hyper-natural interaction, and magic interaction. We'll then move on to physics interaction, and how this works in VR.
Challenges in VR interaction and User Interfaces in VR
Welcome to Week 4! In the final week of this MOOC, we'll be looking at challenges in VR interaction, and user interfaces in VR. You'll begin by learning about graphical user interfaces in VR, including abstract interfaces and diegetic and non-diegetic UI, before moving on to designing VR interaction.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches how to interact with a virtual reality world, which is standard in the VR industry
Taught by Sylvia Xueni Pan, who is recognized for their role in computer science education
Examines basic concepts and technologies in VR interaction, exploring a highly relevant topic in the field
Develops learner skills for moving around in a VR world and interacting with objects, which are core skills for VR developers
Offers hands-on learning in VR interaction design, which helps learners do practical work in the field

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Reviews summary

3d interaction design in virtual reality

Learners say that this course is a thorough introduction to interaction design in virtual reality. They have reported that the theoretical lectures are informative, but some have found that there is a lack of practical elements. However, other learners report that they found the practical project to be fulfilling.
The discussion forum is a helpful resource.
"The theoratical content and the teachers were great but - because the content regarding UNITY practice wasn't updated - it is highly recomended to use UNITY course gegarding VR Basics in parallel."
The course is a good length.
"This course was very helpful in giving its students an introduction to interaction, theories of interaction, and the actual implementation of it within virtual reality and Unity projects."
The theoretical lectures are informative.
"By the end of the course, you know about the different solutions that exist to implement movement and object interaction."
"The course also clearly emphasizes good practices in VR design, such as how to make things intuitive."
The peer review process for projects can be slow.
"Having your projects reviewed only by your peers is, somehow, annoying (you have to beg all the time to have someone reviewing them)."
The course lacks hands-on practice opportunities.
"You literaly have to do everything by yourself."
"If you want to learn the practical side, probably consult a different course."
Out-of-date content can be frustrating.
"A lot of the lessons are outdated and no longer work with Unity."
"A lot of outdated resources and information."
"The content in this course is horrifically deprecated."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality with these activities:
Review the basics of motion and interaction design
Reviewing the basics of motion and interaction design will help you understand the fundamental concepts behind VR interaction.
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos about the basics of motion and interaction design.
  • Try out some simple VR experiences to get a feel for how motion and interaction work in VR.
Create a VR Interaction Resource Collection
Organize and review key course materials, articles, and tutorials to enhance your understanding and retention.
Show steps
  • Gather relevant materials from the course, including lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
  • Bookmark and organize online articles, tutorials, and resources related to VR interaction.
  • Review and synthesize the collected materials to reinforce your knowledge.
Join a VR Study Group
Engage with peers, discuss course concepts, and share knowledge and experiences.
Show steps
  • Find or create a study group with fellow VR enthusiasts.
  • Meet regularly to discuss course materials, work on projects, and provide support.
  • Get feedback on your work and learn from others.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Volunteer at a VR Event
Gain practical experience in VR by assisting at events and interacting with users.
Show steps
  • Contact local VR organizations or event organizers.
  • Offer your services to assist with VR demonstrations or support.
  • Engage with attendees and provide guidance on VR experiences.
Create a prototype of a VR interaction
Creating a prototype of a VR interaction will help you apply your understanding of VR interaction to a practical project.
Show steps
  • Choose a VR interaction that you want to prototype.
  • Design the prototype using a VR development tool.
  • Test the prototype and get feedback from others.
  • Refine the prototype based on feedback.
Attend a VR Meetup or Conference
Connect with VR professionals, learn about industry trends, and get feedback on your work.
Show steps
  • Find a local VR meetup or conference.
  • Network with other VR enthusiasts and professionals.
  • Attend presentations and workshops to learn about VR best practices.
  • Showcase your VR projects and get feedback from experts.
Create a VR Experience Prototype
Apply your knowledge of VR interaction design to create a prototype that demonstrates your understanding of the course concepts.
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or opportunity that VR can address.
  • Design the user experience for your VR prototype.
  • Develop the prototype using Unity or another VR development platform.
  • Test and iterate on your prototype to improve user experience.

Career center

Learners who complete 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Virtual Reality Developer
As a Virtual Reality Developer, you will spearhead the creation of captivating and interactive VR experiences. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' provides a comprehensive foundation for designing immersive VR interactions. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, object manipulation, and UI design. With this knowledge, you'll be well-equipped to translate your creativity into engaging VR experiences.
3D Environment Artist
As a 3D Environment Artist, you will bring virtual worlds to life by creating realistic and immersive environments. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' will equip you with the understanding of how users interact with VR environments. You'll learn about different navigation techniques, object manipulation, and UI design principles. This knowledge will help you create environments that are not only visually stunning but also highly functional.
Game Designer
As a Game Designer, you will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and implementing game mechanics and experiences. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' provides a solid foundation for understanding user interaction in VR environments. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge will help you create VR games that are both engaging and intuitive.
Interaction Designer
As an Interaction Designer, you will specialize in designing and prototyping user interfaces for digital products. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' provides a solid foundation for understanding user interaction in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge will equip you to create VR interfaces that are both intuitive and engaging.
UX Designer
As a UX Designer, you will focus on enhancing the user experience of digital products. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' offers valuable insights into designing user interactions in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, navigation techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge will help you create VR experiences that are both user-friendly and enjoyable.
Virtual Reality Engineer
As a Virtual Reality Engineer, you will specialize in developing and maintaining VR systems and applications. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' provides a foundation for understanding user interaction in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge will help you design and develop VR systems that are both functional and user-friendly.
Motion Capture Artist
As a Motion Capture Artist, you will be responsible for capturing and analyzing human movement data. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' offers valuable insights into how users interact with VR environments. You'll learn about different movement techniques, navigation techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge will help you create VR animations that are both realistic and immersive.
3D Animator
As a 3D Animator, you will be responsible for creating 3D models and animations for various industries, including film, television, and video games. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some insights into designing user interactions in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge can supplement your understanding of user experience in VR environments.
Product Designer
As a Product Designer, you will be responsible for designing and developing digital products. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some insights into designing user interfaces for VR products. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge can complement your understanding of user experience in VR environments.
Software Engineer
As a Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software systems. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some foundational knowledge for understanding user interaction in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. While this course focuses specifically on VR, these principles can be applied to software development in general.
Technical Artist
As a Technical Artist, you will be responsible for bridging the gap between art and technology in various industries, including film, television, and video games. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some insights into designing user interactions in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. This knowledge can supplement your understanding of user experience in VR environments.
Web Developer
As a Web Developer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some foundational knowledge for understanding user interaction in VR. You'll learn about different interaction paradigms, movement techniques, and UI design principles. While this course focuses specifically on VR, these principles can be applied to web development in general.
Animator
As an Animator, you will be responsible for creating and manipulating animations for various industries, including film, television, and video games. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some insights into designing user interactions in VR. You'll learn about different movement techniques and UI design principles. This knowledge can supplement your understanding of user experience in VR environments.
Rigger
As a Rigger, you will be responsible for creating and managing the skeletons and rigs that allow 3D models to move and articulate. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some insights into designing user interactions in VR. You'll learn about different movement techniques and UI design principles. This knowledge can supplement your understanding of user experience in VR environments.
Concept Artist
As a Concept Artist, you will be responsible for creating visual concepts for various industries, including film, television, and video games. This course, '3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality,' may provide some foundational knowledge for understanding user interaction in VR. You'll learn about different UI design principles. While this course focuses specifically on VR, these principles can be applied to concept art in general.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality.
Comprehensive guide to designing virtual reality experiences. It covers the human factors of VR, the different types of VR applications, and the design principles for creating effective and engaging VR experiences.
Comprehensive introduction to virtual reality. It covers the history of VR, the different types of VR headsets, and the applications of VR in various industries. The book also provides guidance on how to create VR content.
Provides a comprehensive overview of virtual reality. It covers the history of VR, the different types of VR systems, and the applications of VR in various industries.
Provides a comprehensive overview of virtual reality. It covers the history of VR, the different types of VR systems, and the applications of VR in various industries.
Provides a comprehensive overview of virtual reality. It covers the history of VR, the different types of VR systems, and the applications of VR in various industries.

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