Back to (Virtual) Reality: Preferences and Effects of Entry and Exit Transitions to Virtual Experiences for Older Adults

Each immersive mixed reality (MR) experience starts with a transition from the real world to virtual reality (VR) and ends with the opposite transition back. The way these transitions are performed can have a significant impact on presence and the overall user experience. However, studies have mostly been conducted with younger users, excluding older adults. In this study, four enter and exit transitions were analyzed regarding presence, user experience, and preference for older adults: (i) a direct transition, (ii) fade transition, (iii) feedback transition, and (iv) active control transition. Results indicate that older adults preferred the active control and the feedback transition over the two traditional ones, with the active control receiving the highest user experience ratings.