Immersive virtual reality technology has rapidly advanced, promising new frontiers in digital interaction, especially for older adults. A groundbreaking study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications reveals how embedding familiarity into virtual reality travel applications can significantly enhance their usability and acceptance among older users. The research pioneers a novel design framework centered on three key elements: representation, manipulation, and guidance, tailored explicitly for immersive virtual reality travel applications (IVRTA). This work stands out for connecting cognitive insights into older adults’ interaction mechanisms with profound practical and theoretical developments aimed at bridging the digital divide in aging populations.
Older adults often face unique challenges when engaging with steeply evolving technologies such as IVRTA. Unlike younger users, they may struggle with complex interactions, visual strain, or unfamiliar digital environments that lead to frustration and abandonment of the technology. This study identifies and validates design strategies that leverage older users’ familiarity with conventional real-world objects and interactions to foster a sense of confidence and sustained engagement when using IVRTA. By integrating familiar cues into the virtual environment’s interface and control schemes, older adults experience a marked increase in cognitive intimacy (CI) — a psychological comfort that translates directly into smoother, more enjoyable virtual travel experiences.
Historically, research on immersive virtual reality and older adult users has largely centered on surface behaviors—user intention to adopt or initial interaction patterns. This pioneering research shifts focus deeper, addressing the underlying cognitive and affective processes that facilitate continued usage over time. By empirically testing how familiarity design influences sustained engagement, the study illustrates crucial psychological mechanisms that strengthen older adults’ willingness and pleasure in navigating virtual spaces. Such findings pave the way for the development of IVRTA with longer-term usability and meaningful impact in real-world applications of aging-friendly digital experience.
The research uniquely contributes to the emerging theoretical corpus on familiarity design by operationalizing it within immersive virtual reality contexts. Familiarity design traditionally has explored static or non-immersive environments but has not been thoroughly integrated with the spatial, sensory, and interactive complexities posed by virtual reality. This study delineates how three distinct strategies — representation, manipulation, and guidance — function in immersive settings to create interfaces that resonate intuitively with an older user demographic. Representation refers to the use of recognizable imagery and scenarios; manipulation involves interaction techniques mimicking real-world tactile experiences; guidance employs virtual agents whose cues mirror human social and communicative conventions.
Furthermore, the study conducts a rigorous randomized controlled trial that assesses both subjective self-report data and objective behavioral evidence to overcome biases like social desirability. This dual-method approach enhances the reliability and depth of the findings, affirming that familiarity-integrated IVRTA experience significantly fewer instances requiring external help. Such results confirm the critical role of intuitive interface elements designed specifically to match older adults’ perceptual and cognitive strengths and limitations, including large fonts, consistent color schemes, and spatial accessibility of information without compromising immersion.
For designers and developers, the implications are transformative. Unlike conventional UI development that often prioritizes younger or tech-savvy demographics, this study champions a paradigm shift to prioritize older adults’ physiological and cognitive attributes. Specifically, design considerations for IVRTA should focus on dynamic 3D user interfaces (D3D UI) that arrange essential information and controls within a minimally disruptive field of view, facilitating natural head movement and visual scanning. This approach optimizes the balance between immersive presence and user interface interaction, ensuring older adults remain confident navigating complex virtual scenarios.
Another key finding emphasizes the importance of Anthropomorphic Virtual Agents (AVA) in IVRTA. The study demonstrates that virtual guides, designed with accessible visual and auditory characteristics, substantially enhance users’ cognitive intimacy and perceived ease of use. AVAs modeled on relatable, human-like personas contribute to familiarity by providing contextual, practical guidance in a supportive, non-intrusive manner. Adjustable speech features—such as volume and pace—adapt to older adults’ auditory processing needs, highlighting the necessity of multimodal accessibility in virtual environments.
Policy implications from this research are equally impactful. The study advocates for targeted government support via dedicated funding streams to accelerate IVRTA development for older adults. Policymakers are urged to incentivize industry adoption of familiarity design principles, leveraging tools such as tax breaks to encourage technology companies to prioritize inclusivity. Development of formalized accessibility standards for virtual reality interfaces is critical to ensuring that products adhere to appropriate design benchmarks, reducing cognitive burden and maximizing usability for aging users.
Moreover, national initiatives to enhance digital literacy in immersive technology among older populations are paramount. Training programs focused on practical skills with D3D interfaces and AVA interactions will empower seniors to integrate these tools into their daily lives independently. The study strongly suggests collaboration between academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to unify expertise and resources, fostering an ecosystem dedicated to age-friendly immersive virtual reality solutions.
This pioneering research not only advances theoretical understanding but also initiates a virtuous cycle where technology design, empirical knowledge, and policy innovation converge to address the pressing challenges of an aging global population. The fusion of technology and familiarity design principles offers a blueprint for creating virtual reality experiences that are not merely novel but truly inclusive. As immersive travel applications gain traction, their potential to contribute to older adults’ well-being, cognitive engagement, and social connectedness becomes increasingly realizable.
Given the significant demographic shifts toward aging societies worldwide, the long-term importance of this study cannot be overstated. It underscores the necessity of moving beyond one-size-fits-all design toward nuanced, user-centered approaches that respect the lived experiences and sensory realities of older adults. Future developments are encouraged to integrate multidisciplinary insights from gerontology, human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, and design science to refine and expand upon this foundation.
In conclusion, the integration of representation, manipulation, and guidance familiarity design strategies within IVRTA constitutes a paradigm shift in immersive digital experiences for older adults. The study opens new avenues of inquiry and innovation in creating virtual realities that are both engaging and supportive, marking a significant step toward digital equity and intelligent aging technology. As the metaverse and virtual tourism industries flourish, ensuring accessibility to vulnerable populations through thoughtful design becomes not only a moral obligation but a valuable economic and societal opportunity.
Subject of Research:
Immersive virtual reality travel applications (IVRTA) designed for older adults with a focus on familiarity-based interface design.
Article Title:
Immersive virtual reality travel applications for older adults: familiarity design focusing on representation, manipulation, and guidance.
Article References:
Lu, X., Tong, B., Xiao, J. et al. Immersive virtual reality travel applications for older adults: familiarity design focusing on representation, manipulation, and guidance. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1482 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05816-6
Image Credits: AI Generated
