Collaborative design in social virtual reality with photogrammetric scans: a case of co-design with childcare workers

Author

Taoka, Yuki and Nakatani, Momoko and Sato, Takumi and Kagohashi, Kaho and Hasegawa, Shouichi and Owada, Shigeru and Saito, Shigeki

Abstract

Collaboration with various stakeholders has become vitally important in new product development. However, traditional codesign methods can be challenging when access to external participants is restricted. This study proposes and evaluates a virtual environment for co-designing quality improvements for childcare workers, using a social virtual reality (VR) platform integrated with photogrammetric scans of places of practice. Co-design workshops were conducted with eight childcare workers in Japan using a commercial social VR platform. Workshop discussions, outcomes, and participants’ perceptions were analyzed. The results indicated that the virtual environment facilitated a high level of perceived presence, enabling participants to generate ideas and address challenges. Participant interviews highlighted that the virtual environment helped overcome fixation on existing settings by presenting an empty, photogrammetrically scanned room with furniture removed, thereby enhancing the codesign process through three-dimensional (3D) prototyping. Challenges, including control difficulties and cybersickness were noted. This study highlights the potential of social VR platforms and photogrammetric scans for co-design in Early Childhood Education and Care contexts, with findings that may also be applicable to other contexts.