I conducted a competitive analysis of two well-known VR meditation apps: Guided Meditation and Tripp. The purpose was to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each app and gain insights into the features that users appreciate in relaxation apps.
Based on the research findings, the users surveyed consisted of both men and women, with women comprising the majority. They expressed a desire for well-being experiences to manage anxiety and stress. It was interesting to note that only 6.7% of respondents had previously tried VR for meditation, which aligns with expectations considering VR is still a relatively new technology in this context. Considering the nature of shorter trips on buses, trains, or taxis, where awareness of surroundings is crucial, using VR for well-being experiences may not be as suitable. However, it makes more sense to explore VR usage during longer trips, such as on airplanes, where users can fully engage with the immersive technology.
After conducting surveys and interviews, I have gathered sufficient information and insights to create a representative user persona for Zen Flow VR. This persona will serve as a guiding reference throughout the design process, ensuring that the application caters to the needs and preferences of this target user.
Using a sitemap, I was able to arrange a visual representation of the product's features and established an overall hierarchy for the application.
As part of my comprehensive research methodology, I proactively employed an empathy map to delve into the depths of the user's mindset and augment my understanding of the targeted user group. This empathetic exploration allowed me to transcend surface-level observations and develop a more profound comprehension of the users' motivations, pain points, and desires, ultimately equipping me with invaluable insights to inform the design process and create user-centric solutions.
At the core of the system architecture is the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset, which serves as the primary interface for users to engage with the meditation application. The headset provides high-quality visuals and a seamless, wireless VR experience, enabling users to enter a tranquil virtual environment for meditation.
In addition to the VR headset, the smartwatch plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall meditation experience. The smartwatch acts as a biofeedback device, continuously monitoring the user's physiological data such as heart rate, breathing patterns, and stress levels.
Immersive Technology
The VR meditation application is specifically tailored for use with the Oculus Quest 2 headset. Considering the extended meditation sessions, the ergonomic design and lightweight construction of the Oculus Quest 2 make it an excellent choice. The headset prioritizes user comfort, providing a comfortable fit that enhances the overall experience during prolonged VR sessions.
IoT Devices
While engaging in meditation, the smartwatch's sensors are used to track user’s heart rate, body temperature, and stress levels. The VR meditation app can receive data from the smartwatch and display it in real-time within the virtual environment.
Oculus Quest 2 features a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect their preferred headphones or earphones for an immersive audio experience.
The next step involved ideation and brainstorming to generate potential solutions. Once the key features and user flow were established, I began capturing my ideas by sketching low-fidelity screens using pen and paper. This allowed me to visualize and evaluate my concepts before transitioning to digital wireframes. Throughout this process, I kept the user persona of Emilia Stressed in mind, ensuring that the proposed solutions directly addressed her pain points and needs.
Mood Board
I invested time in researching competitor applications in order to understand their interface designs. This served the purpose of drawing inspiration and ensuring that Zen Flow stood out distinctly from its competitors.
Sketches
After establishing a visual direction for the app layout, I proceeded to enhance the sketches by transforming them into mid-fidelity wireframes. This involved adding more details and precision to the design, ensuring a clearer representation of the app's structure and functionality.
From the home screen, they have the option to start a meditation session, whether it's a new session or continuing from their recently played ones.
Users are presented with the choice between a guided session or an immersive session, allowing them to tailor their meditation experience based on their preferences and needs.
Users can select their preferred meditation environment or scene, personalizing their experience.
Users have the ability to customize their sessions by selecting their desired session length and background music.
Zen Flow's Breathing Session
Considering the confined space of an airplane, the breathing session is thoughtfully designed with limited interaction to ensure a tranquil experience without inconveniencing other passengers.
The breathing session offers a guided meditation experience with visual cues for inhaling, holding, and exhaling, enhancing the practice's structure.
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Inhale Phase: : Bubbles gradually expand as the user inhales, promoting deep breaths and synchronization with the expanding bubbles.
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Hold Phase: Bubble pause and remain stable, promoting stillness and focus during breath retention.
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Exhale Phase: Bubble shrink back, encouraging slow and complete exhalation for relaxation and release.
Zen Flow's Settings
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Sound: Users can adjust the app's sound effects volume and background music customization for a personalized and immersive meditation experience.
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Accessibility: Enhance app accessibility with features like text size adjustment, color contrast settings, and voice-guided instructions for a comfortable experience.
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Style: Users can choose from various bubble styles to personalize the visual aesthetics of the app to align with their preferences.
Immersive Session
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Immersive Features: Includes subtle visual effects to enhance the sense of immersion.
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Social Features: Users can invite friends to join their meditation sessions, allowing them to share the experience together and enhance social connections.
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Teleportation Mechanism: Allows users to point and select a destination spot within the virtual environment where they want to teleport.
Zentrac is an integrated feature within the VR meditation application that actively tracks vital metrics and stress levels
How does it work?
By connecting the application to compatible biometric sensors, such as wearable devices, users can obtain real-time measurements of their heart rate and stress levels while they engage in meditation sessions. These sensors are worn by the users during their meditation practice.
The study involved the participation of 5 individuals aged between 21 and 28 years who volunteered for the experiment. These participants had limited prior experience with virtual reality (VR). During the study, the participants were presented with different testing environments and were instructed to navigate and test each of them. They were given ample time to explore the user interface (UI) menu experience. I recorded the duration spent by each participant in attempting to interact with the UI menu.
Following the completion of testing, participants were then asked to respond to several interview questions, providing their feedback about their overall experience during the testing phase.
During the usability testing, the primary measure of success was the participants' completion of the assigned task(s) accurately, with minimal errors, and in a timely manner. The focus was on specific criteria, which included
Is the main menu clear and straightforward enough and can the user easily select the desired world?
Once in the world, are the tools easily activated and are they intuitive?
After receiving feedback from the participants, I went through a process of iteration and refinement to enhance the visual designs. Taking into account the valuable input received, I made necessary adjustments and modifications to create a final version of the visual designs.
