Exploring Selection and Search Usability Across Desktop, Tablet, and Head-Mounted Display WebXR Platforms

We present a comparative evaluation of a VR learning application on desktop, head-mounted displays, and tablet platforms. We first evaluated fundamental interaction, including selection and search, and general usability across these platforms using Circles, our custom-built WebXR application. We developed two virtual environments for the study: (1) a selection and search testbed, and (2) a virtual learning environment developed for use within a post-secondary gender diversity workshop. Performance and general usability results were consistent with past studies, suggesting that WebXR offers adequate performance to support learning applications. However, designing a compelling user experience in VR remains challenging, although web-based VR offers accessibility benefits due to its multi-platform design. Finally, as this study was conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, we also reflect on how our system and study accommodate remote participation, similar to a traditionally lab-based experience.