Exploring the Dynamics of HMD and Non-HMD Users in Museum Exhibition with Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) in museum exhibitions often centers on the person using a head-mounted display (HMD), overlooking the experience of co-located visitors. We conducted a user study with 25 participants, using a prototype museum exhibit featuring VR content, one HMD, a tangible controller, and a public display. Our findings identified four user roles: HMD User, Guide, Observer, and Avoidant Participant, shaped by the design, usability, and social context. Guides emerged to assist others, partly compensating for the usability and lack of embedded instructions. Observer and Avoidant roles revealed missed opportunities for interaction. Our findings highlight the value of designing for asymmetric participation to support varied and inclusive engagement in group settings with VR in museum settings, and we present design implications to better support this.