Pause for success: Harnessing interaction delay and target selection difficulty in VR hands-on learning environments

Human-computer interaction (HCI) theory suggests that we should minimize interaction delays and reduce target selection difficulty to optimise performance. However, in learning scenarios, delays have been shown to cause ‘forced learning’ and difficulty can be an intrinsic motivator. Any interplay between delays, forced learning, difficulty, and the embodied, immersive explo-ration style of virtual reality (VR) remains poorly understood. We study the impact of delay and target selection difficulty on learning outcomes in VR. Using a VR makerspace training module with a 2x2 factorial, mixed-methods approach, we analyze the learning data from 124 participants who interacted with either a 5-s or zero delay post target selection, and Easy versus Hard target selection difficulties. The findings reveal that incorporating a 5-s delay post-interaction led to superior learning outcomes, providing users with more time to process and rehearse information. In contrast, altering the target selection difficulty showed negligible effects on learning outcomes, with participants reporting a simultaneous increase in engagement and distraction from the learning content. This research challenges conventional HCI theories within a VR context, suggesting potential educational benefits from strategically incorporated interaction delays. • The impact of lower-level interaction mechanisms such as interaction delay and target selection difficulty on learning outcomes in VR are unclear. • Interaction delay can play an important role in cognitive processing. • Investigating lower-level interaction mechanisms can help VR researchers understand and minimize extraneous processing in hands-on learning environments like a makerspace.