Accessibility Guidelines

Accessibility can be a challenging topic in regular VR, and adding a vehicle’s motion and an elastic environment adds complexity. To make sure the presented content is more inclusive and appeals to a wide audience, keep in mind that the general rules of accessibility apply.

Input and Controls

  1. Ensure that all areas of the user interface can be accessed using the same input method.
  2. Include an option to adjust the sensitivity of controls.
  3. Ensure that all key actions can be carried out with a keyboard and/or by digital controls.
  4. Avoid repetetive input.
  5. Make sure the on-screen keyboard functions properly.

Audio and Speech

  1. Provide separate volume controls and stop/pause or mute effects, for speech and background sound/music (independently from the overall system).
  2. Ensure that no essential information is conveyed by sound alone.
  3. Use distinct sound/music design for all objects and events.
  4. Use surround sound.
  5. Keep background noise to minimum during speech or better yet, avoid using altogether.

UI Elements

  1. Ensure interactive elements/virtual controls are large and well spaced.
  2. Use an easily readable default font size and/or allow the text to be adjusted. Use simple clear text formatting.
  3. Ensure that no essential information is conveyed by text (or visuals) alone, reinforce with symbols, speech/audio or tactile information.
  4. Ensure that no essential information is conveyed by colour alone.
  5. Indicate which UI element is focused on.
  6. Avoid placing essential temporary information outside the player’s eye-line.

Controller

  1. Ensure that the user can reset and calibrate their focus, zoom and orientation/view in a device-independent manner.
  2. Provide an option to select a dominant hand.