Preliminary Review Of A Virtual World Usability Questionnaire

Improving performance through training in virtual environments has led to identifying the best methods associated with enhancing human-computer interaction. This paper provides a description of a usability questionnaire for Virtual World training, by focusing on experiential U.S. Army Warrior Leader Course tasks performed using an input desktop device (i.e., a mouse and keyboard). The usability questionnaire was developed by integrating established usability subscales. A Likert scale for both user experience (for game genre and controller type) and usability levels were implemented, along with free response questions, to gain insight into the controller interface(s). Descriptive statistics and determination of internal consistency (using Cronbach’s alpha) are reviewed for establishing the reliability and validity of the novel questionnaire. Proposed changes to the questionnaire include removal of superfluous items and consolidation of subscales. Tradeoffs for types of controllers are discussed, in light of the results