Competitive + Inclusive Design Analysis
Meta Quest Pro
Functionality
The Meta Quest Pro is a virtual reality headset that creates an immersive experience for users. It has a facial tracking feature which allows for more natural communication through spatial presence. It has also been modified for better ergonomics with a counterbalanced design.
Room for Improvement
The two main issues with using the Meta Quest Pro as a long-distance communication tool are cost and safety for children. The model costs around $1,500 which is very cost prohibitive for many families. Additionally, virtual reality has not been approved for use by children under the age of 12 due to concerns of psychological and cognitive development hinderance.
Inclusivity
While the device has made updates to help with color enhancement and a raised view (16 inches) for those who cannot stand, there are issues which make it exclusive. One of these being the lack of requirements for all games built for the platform to include Accessibility Virtual Reality Checks, VCRs. This extends to the inability of individuals to express their identity in games which do not provide options for avatar customization.
Zoom
Functionality
Zoom is a web-based video conferencing platform that allows users to schedule meetings in advance or spontaneously open a meeting. The platform is simple to use and does not require users to sign up, unless they would like to host a meeting. It has functionalities like quick reactions (thumbs up, etc.) which help express users’ feelings.
Room for Improvement
The platform facilitates one-directional conversation which is very different from in-person conversations. Another issue that can occur with Zoom is unwanted and uninvited individuals ‘crashing’ a call. This could be potentially harmful for children using the platform.
Inclusivity
Zoom has many features that make it highly accessible such as captioning and transcriptions, keyboard and display settings, and screen reader support. The muting other participants when another is speaking can be disruptive to the normal flow of a conversation. While fine for business settings, it is not the most conducive to family connection.
FaceTime
Functionality
The platform effectively executes the visual cues that coincide with audio to create a more holistic communication experience. Seeing one’s partner in real-time can help users understand messages easily and more naturally than with audio alone due to body language and facial expressions.
Room for Improvement
FaceTime has come a long way in improvements to the user experience. Many complaints from users have been addressed with a satisfactory solution. The one downside to FaceTime as it relates to deep and meaningful connection over a long distance is the absence of a physical presence.
Inclusivity
A lack of live captioning in a variety of languages was the biggest issue found with FaceTime. The platform currently supports English (US + Canada) captioning.