Lenovo ThinkReality VRX Software | 2023

Designer: User Experience Design, Lenovo, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
Manufacturer: Lenovo, Morrisville, North Carolina, USA

A rapid shift in digital transformation over the past few years created a highly distributed workforce that learned and adapted to virtual collaboration. This shift challenged teams to maintain productivity while working remotely using virtual tools. The adoption of innovative technologies like virtual and augmented reality continued to close the gap in virtual collaboration. However, many available products focused on the consumer market, which left enterprise companies without many options. The Lenovo VRX is an enterprise-focused virtual reality and mixed reality solution that addresses this demand by helping employees stay connected while remote. Features such as Virtual See-Through and VR Cast reduce errors while increasing efficiencies to keep the user safe and productive while immersed. Keeping a distributed workforce connected and effective is critical to future business success.

ThinkReality VRX is a simple, intuitive, and purpose-built user interface that allows users to adjust device settings, open and manage applications, and quickly access important features such as device health and battery use. This hardware and software solution was built for employee training and education, virtual collaboration, 3D spatial design, and mobile office work. Unlike other Extended Reality solutions, the software design is optimized for a mix of various input methods to give users more control and flexibility with their experience. The controllers are fast, accurate, and efficient and can pair with gesture or voice commands to create a natural interaction. The minimalistic visual design is intentional. It optimizes the most critical settings to avoid distracting users from their work.

The ThinkReality VRX greets users when the device turns on. Its elegant animations showcase its unique 3D experience. The user is immediately transported to a virtual office with breathtaking views of nature, blending real and virtual worlds. The VRX Dock contains only the most essential user controls that were validated with extensive user testing. The Dock was designed to wrap around its user, a subtle affordance of user control. Other controls are embedded within the Quick Settings menu which are easy to use and navigate. Each selectable object is appropriately sized and spaced from other objects to maximize user interaction and reduce accidental selection. The generous spacing and inclusion of white space make the best use of readability and navigation. Additionally, including icon labels and specific accessibility controls for text size makes the experience more accessible.

The VRX design was optimized for accessibility and inclusivity to give users a friendly and approachable immersive experience. It was important to consider the diversity of our users, knowing that most enterprise companies maintain a globally distributed workforce. It was also essential to know that many users may be using VR/MR for the first time. Creating an approachable experience would lead to greater adoption. These principles were the foundation of the design process and served as a guide for user testing. A key design element the design team incorporated to address these considerations directly included integrating multiple input methods to provide user flexibility. Users will have up to four different ways to interact with the software allowing greater accessibility, especially users with motor disabilities. The team also created an accessible and scalable Extended Reality Design System, ensuring the color palette, typography, and icons met the needs of a global user base. They included features that allow users to adjust text and cursor sizes to improve legibility and visibility.

Additionally, they even added color filters to address users with various color blindness and a control to adjust user height, which creates a more natural and realistic virtual experience versus having a single default height for everyone. To ensure they met their goal of creating technology for everyone, they rigorously tested VRX across a diverse range of participants around the world. The designers are confident that their solution exceeds user expectations and surpasses the competition.

Customization and personalization were at the heart of design. Users can save preferences, including pining apps on the Dock for quicker access. Additional user preferences, such as text size and the user interface color, can be modified anytime. This customization is key when designing for various use cases and populations as some users may not have access to one or multiple input modalities. With multiple sensors and cameras, the software was designed to adjust naturally to create a comfortable user experience. Other considerations around the diversity and inclusivity of voice and gesture experiences make this an industry-leading experience.

ThinkReality VRX was built for the enterprise space. Security and privacy are core to the solution and trickle down to its design. Users have control over their data and experience. Every collected data point has a purpose, and users control how that data is collected. The team also built VRX on an open architecture that encourages interoperability across platforms, tools, services, and devices. This development position empowers creators and developers and ensures that content can quickly scale across different experiences. It has never been easier to build 3D content and port it to an enterprise-level VR headset. This new model will change enterprise VR adoption forever.

Finally, the software works holistically with its hardware components. The headset comes with a modular fit kit that allows users to select from a range of front and back of the head pads tested across various countries and anthropometric scales. The hardware's comfort and the software's flexibility enhance the virtual reality experience. Each ThinkReality VRX can be managed by a Mobile Device Manager, which provides custom configurations, device management, app creation, and app management, all from a single location. IT administrators can manage VRX devices across the world from the comfort of their desks and, with intelligent built-in telemetry, have the power to collect important device utilization metrics and insights they have never had access to before.

With the ever-changing workplace, a more globally distributed workforce, and the acceleration of digital transformation, Lenovo’s ThinkReality VRX modernizes the future of productivity and allows all users to embrace virtual collaboration through a beautiful and purpose-built design.