Visual Simplification Controls

Interaction Pattern

Overview

To reduce "peripheral sensory noise" caused by high visual complexity.

Implementation Specification

Toggles that allow the user to disable non-essential environmental effects (such as background animations or textures) or reduce the density of particles. This can help users with sensory processing differences to focus on important visual information without being overwhelmed by extraneous details. The specific options available may vary depending on the application, but could include:

• Disabling background animations or effects
• Reducing the density of particle effects (e.g., smoke, rain, dust)
• Simplifying textures or visual details in the environment
• Enabling a "high contrast" mode that reduces visual clutter and makes important elements stand out
• Enabling a "focus mode" (vignette) that blurs or dims non-essential elements in the user's peripheral vision, allowing them to concentrate on the central area of the display.

1. The Complex Environment: a typical, visually rich VR environment, featuring a high density of particle effects (glowing dust, rain), complex textures, and animated background elements, which can be overwhelming for some users.

2. Visual Simplification Controls: toggles for disabling animations, reducing particle density, simplifying textures, and enabling a high-contrast mode. A slider is also available for a 'Focus Mode' (vignette).

3. The Simplified Environment: now static, with all particle effects removed. Textures are simplified, and a high-contrast mode with a vignette has been applied, allowing the user to focus on the central path without distraction.

Dependencies

Environmental Perception: The Visual Simplification Controls are a specific implementation of the broader Environmental Perception behaviour, which encompasses any mechanism that allows users to adjust how they perceive and process environmental stimuli.