ArcheryVR: VR Archery Learning Experience

How might we design a VR archery app that helps aspiring archers refine their technique and build confidence through immersive, data-driven practice

Role
XR Designer and Prototyper

Duration
November 2024

Design Tools
ShapesXR, Blender

Skills
Problem Framing, Storyboarding, User Journeys, Creating Digital Prototypes, Performing Heuristic Evaluations, Iterative Design, VR Prototyping

Author
Yelnaz Rysbek

Contributors
Michael Nebeling, Anhua Wu, Zeinab Ghandour, Zoe Corser, Colin Zhang, Sonia Doshi

Overview

Archery VR is a virtual reality training application designed to help users improve their archery skills by providing real-time feedback on form, stance, and accuracy. By leveraging immersive technology, the application makes training more accessible, engaging, and effective, even without access to physical coaching or equipment.

Problem Statement

Archery requires precise control over body posture, arm angles, and movement coordination. However, many aspiring archers struggle to develop consistency due to a lack of high-quality coaching, expensive equipment, and limited practice opportunities. Archery VR addresses this issue by creating an immersive training environment that tracks user movements, provides instant feedback, and fosters skill development.

Inspiration

The idea for Archery VR stemmed from my personal experience taking a one-month traditional Kazakh archery course. After my first lesson, I developed bruises on my left arm due to improper form when releasing the bowstring. I also struggled with shooting accuracy, which highlighted the need for better training tools.

Recognizing that proper form is essential for archery success, I designed Archery VR to help users learn correct arm, hand, and body positioning through guided virtual practice.

Design Concept

Coach Features:

Provides real-time corrections for arm and hand positioning based on the user’s movement.
Evaluates user stance and offers feedback on initial body positioning.
Analyzes each shot and provides data-driven recommendations for improvement.

Training Environment:

Users can practice at different distances.
Adjustable bowstring tension to suit user preferences.
Various training environments, including indoor and outdoor ranges, and moving targets.

Prototype Development

Storyboard

Initial testing of user interactions, including drawing the arrow, shooting, and receiving audio feedback.

Digital Prototype

Implemented traveling, shooting mechanics, and discrete audio feedback.

User Feedback & Refinements

Feedback from peers and instructors led to key improvements:

Added continuous feedback instead of discrete sound cues for better user guidance.
Integrated haptic feedback to reinforce form corrections.
Refined analytics by combining audio and visual recommendations.
Improved accessibility considerations, minimizing motion sickness through teleportation-based navigation.

Final Prototype

Enhanced feedback system by incorporating:

Visual analytics post-shot to highlight mistakes.
Combined audio and visual feedback for clarity.
Continuous audio guidance during shooting instead of discrete sound cues.
Haptic feedback to indicate incorrect positioning.

Accessibility & Privacy Considerations

Designed to be stationary to reduce motion sickness.
Users navigate through teleportation instead of continuous movement.
Future development will focus on ensuring stance correction without inducing discomfort.
Considerations for secure storage and sharing of user performance data

Conclusion

Archery VR provides an immersive, interactive training experience that helps users refine their archery techniques in a virtual environment. Through real-time feedback, multi-sensory guidance, and data analytics, it bridges the gap between traditional coaching and self-directed learning. Future iterations will enhance accessibility and privacy, making it an even more inclusive training tool for aspiring archers.