Virtual reality facilitates more efficient design of digital services

Workshop results

Tampere University coordinates the development of digital services in Smart Campus. The goal is to provide services for research, development and innovation in public transportation, maritime industry, construction industry and chemical industry. In the case of public transportation, a virtual reality (VR) platform is developed for facilitating the design process.

“I believe that these kinds of VR platforms can truly benefit our society. Real-time testing of different scenarios in VR helps for example in designing public services which are accessible for all.”, says Markku Turunen, a professor of interactive technology at Tampere University

In VR, the effects of different design choices or environmental conditions can be tested and evaluated prior to their implementation. Design team can visualize the impacts of weather conditions, the flow of people, or the amount of sunlight, for example. VR can also help designers to experience the service in similar manners as special user groups experience them. 

“Vision impairments, physical disabilities, or aging can affect the way people experience public services like transportation. In one of our pilot services built with XAMK, solutions to simulate different visual disabilities will be developed. The resulting visual filter can be used as a visual overlay over the simulated environment, to represent how people with a visual disability would see it. “, explains Tero Avellan, a doctoral researcher at Tampere University. “However, VR does not replace experts with real-life experiences, it helps designers to get a better understanding”, he continues. 

From accessibility to sustainability

The benefits of VR in facilitating the design process are not limited to accessibility. Smart Campus organised an online workshop having experts from six Finnish higher education institutions. The aim was to discuss together the possibilities of VR design platforms and to ideate new digital services. 

The workshop results highlight the need for service personalisation, but also engaging people using gamification was mentioned. The results also highlight the design of more sustainable and energy-efficient services. For example, waste treatment processes in public transportation environments could be improved and tested in VR.  

In addition, the solutions implemented in one city or service can be easily tested in other cities or environments in VR before expanding to actual physical locations. This drives sustainability.

Collaboration is the key

According to Juhani Linna, a project manager promoting digitalisation in Tampere Universities, VR can also bring different actors together to design better services. 

“VR environments for design support collaboration of higher education institutions, businesses, and cities. This develops new partnership models for innovation activities and can strengthen the competitiveness of all these actors,” he says. 

The development work of innovative co-creation processes will continue. In the next phase, Smart Campus will provide a testing environment and support for companies and cities. 

More Information: Markku Turunen, Tampere University